Movement of Trace Elements During Residence in the Antarctic Ice: a Laboratory Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strait, Melissa M.

1991-01-01

Recent work has determined that differences in the trace element distribution between Antarctic eucrites and non-Antarctic eucrites may be due to weathering during residence in the ice, and samples that demonstrate trace element disturbances do not necessarily correspond to eucrites that appear badly weathered to the naked eye. This study constitutes a preliminary test of the idea that long-term residence in the ice is the cause of the trace element disturbances observed in the eucrites. Samples of a non-Antarctic eucrite were leached in water at room temperature conditions. Liquid samples were analyzed for rare earth element abundances using ion chromatography. The results for the short-term study showed little or no evidence that leaching had occurred. However, there were tantalizing hints that something may be happening. The residual solid samples are currently being analyzed for the unleached trace metals using instrumental neutron activation analysis and should show evidence of disturbance if the chromatography clues were real. In addition, another set of samples continues to be intermittently sampled for later analysis. The results should give us information about the movement of trace elements under our conditions and allow us to make some tentative extrapolations to what we observe in actual Antarctic eucrite samples.

Trace metal analysis by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry and x-ray K-edge densitometry of forensic samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berry, Jonna Elizabeth

This dissertation describes a variety of studies on the determination of trace elements in samples with forensic importance. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to determine the trace element composition of numerous lipstick samples. Lipstick samples were determined to be homogeneous. Most lipstick samples of similar colors were readily distinguishable at a 95% confidence interval based on trace element composition. Numerous strands of a multi-strand speaker cable were analyzed by LA-ICP-MS. The strands in this study are spatially heterogeneous in trace element composition. In actual forensic applications, the possibility of spatial heterogeneity must be considered, especially in casesmore » where only small samples (e.g., copper wire fragments after an explosion) are available. The effects of many unpredictable variables, such as weather, temperature, and human activity, on the retention of gunshot residue (GSR) around projectile wounds were assessed with LAICP- MS. Skin samples around gunshot and stab wounds and larvae feeding in and around the wounds on decomposing pig carcasses were analyzed for elements consistent with GSR (Sb, Pb, Ba, and Cu). These elements were detected at higher levels in skin and larvae samples around the gunshot wounds compared to the stab wounds for an extended period of time throughout decomposition in both a winter and summer study. After decomposition, radiographic images of the pig bones containing possible damage from bullets revealed metallic particles embedded within a number of bones. Metallic particles within the bones were analyzed with x-ray, K-edge densitometry and determined to contain lead, indicating that bullet residue can be retained throughout decomposition and detected within bones containing projectile trauma.« less

Discrimination of microbiological samples using femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baudelet, Matthieu; Yu, Jin; Bossu, Myriam; Jovelet, Julien; Wolf, Jean-Pierre; Amodeo, Tanguy; Fréjafon, Emeric; Laloi, Patrick

2006-10-01

Using femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, the authors have analyzed five different species of bacterium. Line emissions from six trace mineral elements, Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, and Fe, have been clearly detected. Their intensities correspond to relative concentrations of these elements contained in the analyzed samples. The authors demonstrate that the concentration profile of trace elements allows unambiguous discrimination of different bacteria. Quantitative differentiation has been made by representing bacteria in a six-dimension hyperspace with each of its axis representing a detected trace element. In such hyperspace, representative points of different species of bacterium are gathered in different and distinct volumes.

Uncertainty estimation in the determination of metals in superficial water by ICP-OES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faustino, Mainara G.; Marques, Joyce R.; Monteiro, Lucilena R.; Stellato, Thamiris B.; Soares, Sabrina M. V.; Silva, Tatiane B. S. C.; da Silva, Douglas B.; Pires, Maria Aparecida F.; Cotrim, Marycel E. B.

2016-07-01

From validation studies, it was possible to estimate a measurement uncertainty of several elements such as Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Cr, Cd, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni and K in water samples from Guarapiranga Dam. These elements were analyzed by optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES). The value of relative estimated uncertainties were between 3% and 15%. The greatest uncertainty contributions were analytical curve, and the recovery method, which were related with elements concentrations and the equipment response. Water samples analyzed were compared with CONAMA Resolution #357/2005.

Objective Assessment of an Ionic Footbath (IonCleanse): Testing Its Ability to Remove Potentially Toxic Elements from the Body

PubMed Central

Kennedy, Deborah A.; Cooley, Kieran; Einarson, Thomas R.; Seely, Dugald

2012-01-01

Ionic footbaths are often used in holistic health centres and spas to aid in detoxification; however, claims that these machines eliminate toxins from the body have not been rigorously evaluated. In this proof-of-principle study, we sought to measure the release of potentially toxic elements from ionic footbaths into distilled and tap water with and without feet. Water samples were collected and analyzed following 30-minute ionic footbath sessions without feet using both distilled (n = 1) and tap water (n = 6) and following four ionic footbaths using tap water (once/week for 4 weeks) in six healthy participants. Urine collection samples were analyzed at four points during the study. Hair samples were analyzed for element concentrations at baseline and study conclusion. Contrary to claims made for the machine, there does not appear to be any specific induction of toxic element release through the feet when running the machine according to specifications. PMID:22174728

Evaluation of Macro- and Microelement Levels in Black Tea in View of Its Geographical Origin.

PubMed

Brzezicha-Cirocka, Justyna; Grembecka, Małgorzata; Ciesielski, Tomasz; Flaten, Trond Peder; Szefer, Piotr

2017-04-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the elemental composition of black tea samples and their infusions in view of their geographical origin. In total, 14 elements were analyzed, 13 (Ca, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, Cd, and Pb) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and P by UV-Vis spectrometry, after mineralization of samples. It was found that K was the most abundant macroelement in the analyzed samples, whereas among microelements, the highest concentration was found for Mn. Based on the obtained data, the percentage of elements leached into the infusions as well as the daily elemental intake from tea were calculated. The daily intake from tea was compared to the recommended daily allowances (RDAs), and the highest percentages of the RDAs were found for Mn (15 %) and Co (10 %). To study the relations between elemental composition and country of origin of samples, factor analysis and cluster analysis were applied. These multivariate techniques proved to be efficient tools able to differentiate samples according to their provenance as well as plantation within the common regions.

Organic Compounds, Trace Elements, Suspended Sediment, and Field Characteristics at the Heads-of-Tide of the Raritan, Passaic, Hackensack, Rahway, and Elizabeth Rivers, New Jersey, 2000-03

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bonin, Jennifer L.; Wilson, Timothy P.

2006-01-01

Concentrations of suspended sediment, particulate and dissolved organic carbon, trace elements, and organic compounds were measured in samples from the heads-of-tide of the five tributaries to the Newark and Raritan Bays during June 2000 to June 2003. The samples were collected as part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Toxics Reduction Workplan/Contaminant Assessment Reduction Program. Samples of streamwater were collected at water-quality sampling stations constructed near U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations on the Raritan, Passaic, Hackensack, Rahway, and Elizabeth Rivers. Sampling was conducted during base-flow conditions and storms. Constituent concentrations were measured to determine the water quality and to calculate the load of sediment and contaminants contributed to the bays from upstream sources. Water samples were analyzed for suspended sediment, dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, and specific conductance. Samples of suspended sediment and water were analyzed for 98 distinct polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, 7 dioxins, 10 furans, 27 pesticides, 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the trace elements cadmium, lead, mercury, and methyl-mercury. Measurements of ultra-low concentrations of organic compounds in sediment and water were obtained by collecting 1 to 3 grams of suspended sediment on glass fiber filters and by passing at least 20 liters of filtered water through XAD-2 resin. The extracted sediment and XAD-2 resin were analyzed for organic compounds by high- and low-resolution gas chromatography mass-spectrometry that uses isotope dilution procedures. Trace elements in filtered and unfiltered samples were analyzed for cadmium, lead, mercury, and methyl-mercury by inductively coupled charged plasma and mass-spectrometry. All constituent concentrations are raw data. Interpretation of the data will be completed in the second phase of the study.

Major- and trace-element concentrations in rock samples collected in 2004 from the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-scale quadrangle, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Klimasauskas, Edward P.; Miller, Marti L.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Karl, Sue M.; Baichtal, James F.; Blodgett, Robert B.

2006-01-01

The Kuskokwim mineral belt of Bundtzen and Miller (1997) forms an important metallogenic region in southwestern Alaska that has yielded more than 3.22 million ounces of gold and 400,000 ounces of silver. Precious-metal and related deposits in this region associated with Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary igneous complexes extend into the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-scale quadrangle. The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting geologic mapping and a mineral resource assessment of this area that will provide a better understanding of the geologic framework, regional geochemistry, and may provide targets for mineral exploration and development. During the 2004 field season 137 rock samples were collected for a variety of purposes. The 4 digital files accompanying this report reflect the type of analysis performed and its intended purpose and are available for download as an Excel workbook, comma delimited format (*.csv), dBase 4 files (*.dbf) or as point coverages in ArcInfo interchange format (*.e00). Data values are provided in percent, pct (1gram per 100grams), or parts per million, ppm (1gram per 1,000,000grams) per the column heading in the table. All samples were analyzed for a suite of 42 trace-elements (icp42.*) to provide data for use in geochemical exploration as well as some baseline data. Selected samples were analyzed by additional methods; 104 targeted geochemical exploration samples were analyzed for gold, arsenic, and mercury (auashg.*); 21 of these samples were also analyzed to obtain concentrations of 10 loosely bound metals (icp10.*); 33 rock samples were analyzed for major element oxides to support the regional mapping program (reg.*), of which 28 sedimentary rock samples were also analyzed for total carbon, and carbonate carbon.

Database creation, data quality assessment, and geochemical maps (phase V, deliverable 59)—Final report on compilation and validation of geochemical data: Chapter D in Second projet de renforcement institutionnel du secteur minier de la République Islamique de Mauritanie (PRISM-II)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eppinger, Robert G.; Giles, Stuart A.; Lee, Gregory K.; Smith, Steven M.

2015-01-01

The geochemical sample media collected by the BGS and BRGM under the PRISM-I contract included rock, sediment, regolith, and soil samples. Details on sample collection procedures are in unpublished reports available from PRISM. These samples were analyzed under PRISM-I contract by ALS Chemex Laboratories using various combinations of modern methods including fire-assay inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICPAES) and ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Au; multi-acid digestion, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for Ag and As; 47-element, four-acid digestion, ICP-MS; 27-element, fouracid digestion, ICP-AES; special four-acid ICP-MS techniques for Pt and B; fire assay followed by ICP-AES for platinum-group elements; whole-rock analyses by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF); special techniques for loss-on-ignition, inorganic C, and total S; and special ore-grade AAS techniques for Ag, Au, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Around 30,000 samples were analyzed by at least one technique. However, it is stressed here that: (1) there was no common sample medium collected at all sites, likely due to the vast geological and geomorphologic differences across the country, (2) the sample site distribution is very irregular, likely due in part to access constraints and sand dune cover, and (3) there was no common across-the-board trace element analytical package used for all samples. These three aspects fundamentally affect the ability to produce country-wide geochemical maps of Mauritania. Gold (Au), silver (Ag), and arsenic (As) were the three elements that were most commonly analyzed.

Miniature Neutron-Alpha Activation Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhodes, E.; Goldsten, J.

2001-01-01

We are developing a miniature neutron-alpha activation spectrometer for in situ analysis of samples including rocks, fines, ices, and drill cores, suitable for a lander or Rover platform, that would meet the severe mass, power, and environmental constraints of missions to the outer planets. In the neutron-activation mode, a gamma-ray spectrometer will first perform a penetrating scan of soil, ice, and loose material underfoot (depths to 10 cm or more) to identify appropriate samples. Chosen samples will be analyzed in bulk in neutron-activation mode, and then the sample surfaces will be analyzed in alpha-activation mode using Rutherford backscatter and x-ray spectrometers. The instrument will provide sample composition over a wide range of elements, including rock-forming elements (such as Na, Mg, Si, Fe, and Ca), rare earths (Sm and Eu for example), radioactive elements (K, Th, and U), and light elements present in water, ices, and biological materials (mainly H, C, O, and N). The instrument is expected to have a mass of about l kg and to require less than 1 W power. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Rapid screening of heavy metals and trace elements in environmental samples using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, A comparative study

PubMed Central

McComb, Jacqueline Q.; Rogers, Christian; Han, Fengxiang X.; Tchounwou, Paul B.

2014-01-01

With industrialization, great amounts of trace elements and heavy metals have been excavated and released on the surface of the earth and dissipated into the environments. Rapid screening technology for detecting major and trace elements as well as heavy metals in variety of environmental samples is most desired. The objectives of this study were to determine the detection limits, accuracy, repeatability and efficiency of a X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Niton XRF analyzer) in comparison with the traditional analytical methods, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-MS) in screening of major and trace elements of environmental samples including estuary soils and sediments, contaminated soils, and biological samples. XRF is a fast and non-destructive method in measuring the total concentration of multi--elements simultaneously. Contrary to ICP-OES and ICP-MS, XRF analyzer is characterized by the limited preparation required for solid samples, non-destructive analysis, increased total speed and high throughout, the decreased production of hazardous waste and the low running costs as well as multi-elemental determination and portability in the fields. The current comparative study demonstrates that XRF is a good rapid non-destructive method for contaminated soils, sediments and biological samples containing higher concentrations of major and trace elements. Unfortunately, XRF does not have sensitive detection limits of most major and trace elements as ICP-OES or ICP-MS but it may serve as a rapid screening tool for locating hot spots of uncontaminated field soils and sediments. PMID:25861136

Major- and Trace-Element Concentrations in Rock Samples Collected in 2005 from the Taylor Mountains 1:250,000-scale Quadrangle, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Klimasauskas, Edward P.; Miller, Marti L.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Bundtzen, Tom K.; Hudson, Travis L.

2006-01-01

The data consist of major- and minor-element concentrations for rock samples collected during 2005 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Samples were analyzed by fire assay (Au, Pd, Pt), cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (Hg), and the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) 10 and 42 element methods. For details of sample preparation and analytical techniques see USGS Open File Report 02-0223 (Analytical methods for chemical analysis of geologic and other materials, U.S. Geological Survey), available at .

Potential sources of analytical bias and error in selected trace element data-quality analyses

USGS Publications Warehouse

Paul, Angela P.; Garbarino, John R.; Olsen, Lisa D.; Rosen, Michael R.; Mebane, Christopher A.; Struzeski, Tedmund M.

2016-09-28

Potential sources of analytical bias and error associated with laboratory analyses for selected trace elements where concentrations were greater in filtered samples than in paired unfiltered samples were evaluated by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Quality Specialists in collaboration with the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) and the Branch of Quality Systems (BQS).Causes for trace-element concentrations in filtered samples to exceed those in associated unfiltered samples have been attributed to variability in analytical measurements, analytical bias, sample contamination either in the field or laboratory, and (or) sample-matrix chemistry. These issues have not only been attributed to data generated by the USGS NWQL but have been observed in data generated by other laboratories. This study continues the evaluation of potential analytical bias and error resulting from matrix chemistry and instrument variability by evaluating the performance of seven selected trace elements in paired filtered and unfiltered surface-water and groundwater samples collected from 23 sampling sites of varying chemistries from six States, matrix spike recoveries, and standard reference materials.Filtered and unfiltered samples have been routinely analyzed on separate inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry instruments. Unfiltered samples are treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) during an in-bottle digestion procedure; filtered samples are not routinely treated with HCl as part of the laboratory analytical procedure. To evaluate the influence of HCl on different sample matrices, an aliquot of the filtered samples was treated with HCl. The addition of HCl did little to differentiate the analytical results between filtered samples treated with HCl from those samples left untreated; however, there was a small, but noticeable, decrease in the number of instances where a particular trace-element concentration was greater in a filtered sample than in the associated unfiltered sample for all trace elements except selenium. Accounting for the small dilution effect (2 percent) from the addition of HCl, as required for the in-bottle digestion procedure for unfiltered samples, may be one step toward decreasing the number of instances where trace-element concentrations are greater in filtered samples than in paired unfiltered samples.The laboratory analyses of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc did not appear to be influenced by instrument biases. These trace elements showed similar results on both instruments used to analyze filtered and unfiltered samples. The results for aluminum and molybdenum tended to be higher on the instrument designated to analyze unfiltered samples; the results for selenium tended to be lower. The matrices used to prepare calibration standards were different for the two instruments. The instrument designated for the analysis of unfiltered samples was calibrated using standards prepared in a nitric:hydrochloric acid (HNO3:HCl) matrix. The instrument designated for the analysis of filtered samples was calibrated using standards prepared in a matrix acidified only with HNO3. Matrix chemistry may have influenced the responses of aluminum, molybdenum, and selenium on the two instruments. The best analytical practice is to calibrate instruments using calibration standards prepared in matrices that reasonably match those of the samples being analyzed.Filtered and unfiltered samples were spiked over a range of trace-element concentrations from less than 1 to 58 times ambient concentrations. The greater the magnitude of the trace-element spike concentration relative to the ambient concentration, the greater the likelihood spike recoveries will be within data control guidelines (80–120 percent). Greater variability in spike recoveries occurred when trace elements were spiked at concentrations less than 10 times the ambient concentration. Spike recoveries that were considerably lower than 90 percent often were associated with spiked concentrations substantially lower than what was present in the ambient sample. Because the main purpose of spiking natural water samples with known quantities of a particular analyte is to assess possible matrix effects on analytical results, the results of this study stress the importance of spiking samples at concentrations that are reasonably close to what is expected but sufficiently high to exceed analytical variability. Generally, differences in spike recovery results between paired filtered and unfiltered samples were minimal when samples were analyzed on the same instrument.Analytical results for trace-element concentrations in ambient filtered and unfiltered samples greater than 10 and 40 μg/L, respectively, were within the data-quality objective for precision of ±25 percent. Ambient trace-element concentrations in filtered samples greater than the long-term method detection limits but less than 10 μg/L failed to meet the data-quality objective for precision for at least one trace element in about 54 percent of the samples. Similarly, trace-element concentrations in unfiltered samples greater than the long-term method detection limits but less than 40 μg/L failed to meet this data-quality objective for at least one trace-element analysis in about 58 percent of the samples. Although, aluminum and zinc were particularly problematic, limited re-analyses of filtered and unfiltered samples appeared to improve otherwise failed analytical precision.The evaluation of analytical bias using standard reference materials indicate a slight low bias for results for arsenic, cadmium, selenium, and zinc. Aluminum and molybdenum show signs of high bias. There was no observed bias, as determined using the standard reference materials, during the analysis of lead.

Determination of mineral, trace element, and pesticide levels in honey samples originating from different regions of Malaysia compared to manuka honey.

PubMed

Moniruzzaman, Mohammed; Chowdhury, Muhammed Alamgir Zaman; Rahman, Mohammad Abdur; Sulaiman, Siti Amrah; Gan, Siew Hua

2014-01-01

The present study was undertaken to determine the content of six minerals, five trace elements, and ten pesticide residues in honeys originating from different regions of Malaysia. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), while sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were analyzed by flame emission spectrometry (FAES). Trace elements such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and cobalt (Co) were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) following the microwave digestion of honey. High mineral contents were observed in the investigated honeys with K, Na, Ca, and Fe being the most abundant elements (mean concentrations of 1349.34, 236.80, 183.67, and 162.31 mg/kg, resp.). The concentrations of the trace elements were within the recommended limits, indicating that the honeys were of good quality. Principal component analysis reveals good discrimination between the different honey samples. The pesticide analysis for the presence of organophosphorus and carbamates was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). No pesticide residues were detected in any of the investigated honey samples, indicating that the honeys were pure. Our study reveals that Malaysian honeys are rich sources of minerals with trace elements present within permissible limits and that they are free from pesticide contamination.

Determination of Mineral, Trace Element, and Pesticide Levels in Honey Samples Originating from Different Regions of Malaysia Compared to Manuka Honey

PubMed Central

Moniruzzaman, Mohammed; Chowdhury, Muhammed Alamgir Zaman; Rahman, Mohammad Abdur; Sulaiman, Siti Amrah; Gan, Siew Hua

2014-01-01

The present study was undertaken to determine the content of six minerals, five trace elements, and ten pesticide residues in honeys originating from different regions of Malaysia. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), while sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were analyzed by flame emission spectrometry (FAES). Trace elements such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and cobalt (Co) were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) following the microwave digestion of honey. High mineral contents were observed in the investigated honeys with K, Na, Ca, and Fe being the most abundant elements (mean concentrations of 1349.34, 236.80, 183.67, and 162.31 mg/kg, resp.). The concentrations of the trace elements were within the recommended limits, indicating that the honeys were of good quality. Principal component analysis reveals good discrimination between the different honey samples. The pesticide analysis for the presence of organophosphorus and carbamates was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). No pesticide residues were detected in any of the investigated honey samples, indicating that the honeys were pure. Our study reveals that Malaysian honeys are rich sources of minerals with trace elements present within permissible limits and that they are free from pesticide contamination. PMID:24982869

Determining baselines and variability of elements in plants and soils near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crock, J.G.; Severson, R.C.; Gough, L.P.

1992-01-01

Recent investigations on the Kenai Peninsula had two major objectives: (1) to establish elemental baseline concentrations ranges for native vegetation and soils; and, (2) to determine the sampling density required for preparing stable regional geochemical maps for various elements in native plants and soils. These objectives were accomplished using an unbalanced, nested analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) barbell sampling design. Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) BSG (feather moss, whole plant), Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce, twigs and needles), and soil horizons (02 and C) were collected and analyzed for major and trace total element concentrations. Using geometric means and geometric deviations, expected baseline ranges for elements were calculated. Results of the ANOVA show that intensive soil or plant sampling is needed to reliably map the geochemistry of the area, due to large local variability. For example, producing reliable element maps of feather moss using a 50 km cell (at 95% probability) would require sampling densities of from 4 samples per cell for Al, Co, Fe, La, Li, and V, to more than 15 samples per cell for Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn.Recent investigations on the Kenai Peninsula had two major objectives: (1) to establish elemental baseline concentrations ranges for native vegetation and soils; and, (2) to determine the sampling density required for preparing stable regional geochemical maps for various elements in native plants and soils. These objectives were accomplished using an unbalanced, nested analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) barbell sampling design. Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) BSG (feather moss, whole plant), Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce, twigs and needles), and soil horizons (02 and C) were collected and analyzed for major and trace total element concentrations. Using geometric means and geometric deviations, expected baseline ranges for elements were calculated. Results of the ANOVA show that intensive soil or plant sampling is needed to reliably map the geochemistry of the area, due to large local variability. For example, producing reliable element maps of feather moss using a 50 km cell (at 95% probability) would require sampling densities of from 4 samples per cell Al, Co, Fe, La, Li, and V, to more than 15 samples per cell for Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn.

Geochemistry of CI chondrites: Major and trace elements, and Cu and Zn Isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrat, J. A.; Zanda, B.; Moynier, F.; Bollinger, C.; Liorzou, C.; Bayon, G.

2012-04-01

In order to check the heterogeneity of the CI chondrites and determine the average composition of this group of meteorites, we analyzed a series of six large chips (weighing between 0.6 and 1.2 g) of Orgueil prepared from five different stones. In addition, one sample from each of Ivuna and Alais was analyzed. Although the sizes of the chips used in this study were “large”, our results show evidence for minor chemical heterogeneity in Orgueil, particularly for alkali elements and U. After removal of one outlier sample, the spread of the results is considerably reduced. For most of the 46 elements analyzed in this study, the average composition calculated for Orgueil is in very good agreement with previous CI estimates. This average, obtained with a “large” mass of samples, is analytically homogeneous and is suitable for normalization purposes. Finally, the Cu and Zn isotopic ratios are homogeneously distributed within the CI parent body with a spread of less than 100 ppm per atomic mass unit (amu).

Trace-element analysis of 1000 environmental samples per year using instrumental neutron activation analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheibley, D. W.

1974-01-01

The technology and methods developed at the Plum Brook Reactor to analyze 1000 samples per year and report data on as many as 56 elements are described. The manpower for the complete analysis of 20 to 24 samples per week required only 3 to 3.5 hours per sample. The solutions to problems encountered in sample preparation, irradiation, and counting are discussed. The automation of data reduction is described. Typical data on various sample matrices are presented.

The NITON{reg_sign} XL-800 Series Multi-Element Spectrum Analyzer (Alloy Analyzer). Innovative Technology Summary Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2000-04-01

The NITON{reg_sign} 800 series analyzer is a hand-held, battery operated unit that measures 8-in x 3-in x 2-in and weighs 2.5 pounds. The analyzer uses x-ray fluorescence spectrum analysis to identify and quantify elements in metal and then compares the readings to a built-in library to determine a metal's alloy. The library contains 300 elements and alloys, and can be customized to identify other elements and alloys (depending on the sources in the instrument). The basic unit utilizes a Cadmium-109 source, but each analyzer unit can hold up to two sources. These sources include Iron-55 and Americium-241. Pushing a safetymore » button located on the side of the unit and placing it against a surface opens the shutter window. Within seconds the unit beeps, and displays the results. The analyzer stores up to 1,000 data sets, including sample identification codes using a barcode reader. The data is easily downloaded to a conventional computer when sampling has been completed. Batteries are good for 8-hrs and charge in less than 2 hours and it can be carried, shipped, or transported without exterior labeling, conforming to 49 CFR 143.421.« less

Major and trace elements in igneous rocks from Apollo 15.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Helmke, P. A.; Blanchard, D. P.; Haskin, L. A.; Telander, K.; Weiss, C.; Jacobs, J. W.

1973-01-01

The concentrations of major and trace elements have been determined in igneous rocks from Apollo 15. All materials analyzed have typical depletions of Eu except for minerals separated from sample 15085. Four samples have concentrations of trace elements that are similar to those of KREEP. The samples of mare basalt from Apollo 15 have higher concentrations of FeO, MgO, Mn, and Cr and lower concentrations of CaO, Na2O, K2O, and rare-earth elements (REE) as compared to the samples of mare basalt from Apollos 11, 12, and 14. The samples can be divided into two groups on the basis of their normative compositions. One group is quartz normative and has low concentrations of FeO while the other is olivine normative and has high concentrations of FeO. The trace element data indicate that the samples of olivine normative basalt could be from different portions of a single lava flow.

Long-term changes in solar wind elemental and isotopic ratios - A comparison of two lunar ilmenites of different antiquities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, Richard H.; Pepin, Robert O.

1989-01-01

The solar wind components in two lunar ilmenites are examined. The noble gas and nitrogen elemental and isotopic abundances of lunar regolith breccia sample 79035, assumed to have been exposed to solar winds more than 2 Ga ago, are analyzed using stepwise oxidation and pyrolysis. This sample is compared with the data of Frick et al. (1988) for soil sample 71501, recently exposed to solar winds. It is observed that the two elements differ in terms of xenon abundance, helium and neon isotopic rates, and He/Ar elemental ratios. It is concluded that there have been isotopic and elemental abundance changes in solar wind composition over time.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT XRF ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Rigaku ZSX Mini II (ZSX Mini II) XRF Services x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer was demon-strated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The field portion of the demonstration was conducted in January 2005 at the Kennedy Athletic, Recreational and Social Park (KARS) at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The demonstration was designed to collect reliable performance and cost data for the ZSX Mini II analyzer and seven other commercially available XRF instruments for measuring trace elements in soil and sediment. The performance and cost data were evaluated to document the relative performance of each XRF instrument. This innovative technology verification report describes the objectives and the results of that evaluation and serves to verify the performance and cost of the ZSX Mini II analyzer. Separate reports have been prepared for the other XRF instruments that were evaluated as part of the demonstration. The objectives of the evaluation included determining each XRF instrument’s accuracy, precision, sample throughput, and tendency for matrix effects. To fulfill these objectives, the field demonstration incorporated the analysis of 326 prepared samples of soil and sediment that contained 13 target elements. The prepared samples included blends of environmental samples from nine different sample collection sites as well as spiked samples with certified element con

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT XRF ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Rontec PicoTAX x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer was demonstrated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The field portion of the demonstration was conducted in January 2005 at the Kennedy Athletic, Recreational and Social Park (KARS) at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The demonstration was designed to collect reliable performance and cost data for the PicoTAX analyzer and seven other commercially available XRF instruments for measuring trace elements in soil and sediment. The performance and cost data were evaluated to document the relative performance of each XRF instrument. This innovative technology verification report describes the objectives and the results of that evaluation and serves to verify the performance and cost of the PicoTAX analyzer. Separate reports have been prepared for the other XRF instruments that were evaluated as part of the demonstration. The objectives of the evaluation included determining each XRF instrument’s accuracy, precision, sample throughput, and tendency for matrix effects. To fulfill these objectives, the field demonstration incorporated the analysis of 326 prepared samples of soil and sediment that contained 13 target elements. The prepared samples included blends of environmental samples from nine different sample collection sites as well as spiked samples with certified element concentrations. Accuracy was assessed by c

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT XRF ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Niton XLt 700 Series (XLt) XRF Services x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer was demonstrated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The field portion of the demonstration was conducted in January 2005 at the Kennedy Athletic, Recreational and Social Park (KARS) at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The demonstration was designed to collect reliable performance and cost data for the XLt analyzer and seven other commercially available XRF instruments for measuring trace elements in soil and sediment. The performance and cost data were evaluated to document the relative performance of each XRF instrument. This innovative technology verification report describes the objectives and the results of that evaluation and serves to verify the performance and cost of the XLt analyzer. Separate reports have been prepared for the other XRF instruments that were evaluated as part of the demonstration. The objectives of the evaluation included determining each XRF instrument’s accuracy, precision, sample throughput, and tendency for matrix effects. To fulfill these objectives, the field demonstration incorporated the analysis of 326 prepared samples of soil and sediment that contained 13 target elements. The prepared samples included blends of environmental samples from nine different sample collection sites as well as spiked samples with certified element concentrations. Accuracy

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT XRF ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Oxford ED2000 x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer was demonstrated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The field portion of the demonstration was conducted in January 2005 at the Kennedy Athletic, Recreational and Social Park (KARS) at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The demonstration was designed to collect reliable performance and cost data for the ED2000 analyzer and seven other commercially available XRF instruments for measuring trace elements in soil and sediment. The performance and cost data were evaluated to document the relative performance of each XRF instrument. This innovative technology verification report describes the objectives and the results of that evaluation and serves to verify the performance and cost of the ED2000 analyzer. Separate reports have been prepared for the other XRF instruments that were evaluated as part of the demonstration. The objectives of the evaluation included determining each XRF instrument’s accuracy, precision, sample throughput, and tendency for matrix effects. To fulfill these objectives, the field demonstration incorporated the analysis of 326 prepared samples of soil and sediment that contained 13 target elements. The prepared samples included blends of environmental samples from nine different sample collection sites as well as spiked samples with certified element concentrations. Accuracy was assessed by com

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT XRF ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Innov-X XT400 Series (XT400) x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer was demonstrated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The field portion of the demonstration was conducted in January 2005 at the Kennedy Athletic, Recreational and Social Park (KARS) at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The demonstration was designed to collect reliable performance and cost data for the XT400 analyzer and seven other commercially available XRF instruments for measuring trace elements in soil and sediment. The performance and cost data were evaluated to document the relative performance of each XRF instrument. This innovative technology verification report describes the objectives and the results of that evaluation and serves to verify the performance and cost of the XT400 analyzer. Separate reports have been prepared for the other XRF instruments that were evaluated as part of the demonstration. The objectives of the evaluation included determining each XRF instrument’s accuracy, precision, sample throughput, and tendency for matrix effects. To fulfill these objectives, the field demonstration incorporated the analysis of 326 prepared samples of soil and sediment that contained 13 target elements. The prepared samples included blends of environmental samples from nine different sample collection sites as well as spiked samples with certified element concentrations. Accuracy was as

Effects of washing on mineral composition of leaf samples of Lycium andersonii

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wallace, A.; Romney, E.M.; Hunter, R.B.

1982-07-01

Leaves of Lycium andersonii A. Gray from 20 different shrubs from the northern Mojave Desert were collected. Half of each sample was washed in 1/10 N HCl followed with deionized water before analysis in triplicate by optical emission spectrometry, and the other half was analyzed unwashed. Washed samples contained 12, 35, 33, 40, 55, 47, 57, 8, 8, 9, and 20 percent, respectivey, less calcium, zinc, copper, iron, aluminum, silicon, titanium, strontium, barium, lithium, and lead than did unwashed leaves. The losses probably exceed contamination for some elements, because the results differed in some respects from those obtained for citrus.more » Statisticaly significant differences were not obtained for other elements analyzed. Even though 40 to 57 percent of the iron, aluminum, silicon, and titanium was washed from the leaves, cluster analyses grouped the four elements into a common cluster whether or not the leaves had been washed. Washing resulted in a lower coefficient of variation for some of the elements compared with unwashed leaves.« less

Concentration of trace elements on branded cigarette in Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azman, Muhammad Azfar; Yasir, Muhamad Samudi; Rahman, Irman Abdul; Hamzah, Suhaimi; Rahman, Shamsiah Abdul; Elias, Md Suhaimi; Abdullah, Nazaratul Ashifa; Hashim, Azian; Shukor, Shakirah Abd

2016-01-01

Tobacco is a plant that is used as a recreational drug since the beginning of its use by the Native Americans. Now with the development of the tobacco industry, smoking has become a norm for the public in Malaysia. Trace elements in plants are mostly due to the uptake processes from the soils into the roots of the plants. The concentration of the elements may also be influenced by the elements contained in the water and also fertilizers. This paper aim to analyze the concentration of the trace elements contained in the branded cigarettes sold in Malaysia by utilizing the neutron activation analysis. The tobaccos were taken out from the cigarettes. The collected samples were air dried and passed through 2 mm sieve. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) has been used for the determination of trace elements. Samples were activated in the Nuclear Malaysia Triga Mark II reactor with a neutron flux of 2.0 x 1012 n cm-2 s-1. The samples then were analyzed using ORTEC Gamma Spectrometer a co-axial n-type HPGe detector with resolution of 2.0 keV at 1332 keV and relative efficiency of 20%. The data obtained could help in assessing the concentration of the trace elements that complying with the standard limitation dose proposed by World Health Organization (WHO).

Determination of sixteen elements and arsenic species in brown, polished and milled rice.

PubMed

Narukawa, Tomohiro; Matsumoto, Eri; Nishimura, Tsutomu; Hioki, Akiharu

2014-01-01

The concentrations of 16 elements in 10 rice flour samples and the distribution of the elements in the rice grains from which the flour were made were determined by ICP-MS and ICP-OES after microwave-assisted digestion of the samples. Arsenic speciation analysis was carried out by HPLC-ICP-MS following heat-assisted extraction of the sample. The concentrations of inorganic As (As(III) and As(V)), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) and their distribution in the rice grains were determined. Portions of the brown rice were polished/milled to different degrees to yield milled off samples and polished rice samples. All samples were powdered and analyzed for 16 elements and for As species. The recoveries and mass balances for all elements in all samples showed good agreements with the starting materials. As(III), As(V), MMAA and DMAA were detected, and the sums of the concentrations of all species in the extract were 86-105% of the total As concentration in each case.

Preliminary study of radioactive limonite localities in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lovering, T.G.; Beroni, E.P.

1956-01-01

Nine radioactive limonite localities of different types were sampled during the spring and fall of 1953 in an effort to establish criteria for differentiating limonite outcrops associated with uranium or thorium deposits from limonite outcrops not associated with such deposits. The samples were analyzed for uranium and thorium by standard chemical methods, for equivalent uranium by the radiometric method, and for a number of common metals by semiquantitative geochemical methods. Correlation coefficients were then calculated for each of the metals with respect to equivalent uranium, and to uranium where present, for all of the samples from each locality. The correlation coefficients may indicate a significant association between uranium or thorium and certain metals. Occurrences of specific that are interpreted as significant very considerably for different uranium localities but are more consistent for the thorium localities. Samples taken from radioactive outcrops in the vicinity of uranium or thorium deposits can be quickly analyzed by geochemical methods for various elements. Correlation coefficients can then be determined for the various elements with respect to uranium or thorium; if any significant correlations are obtained, the elements showing such correlation may be indicators of uranium or thorium. Soil samples of covered areas in the vicinity of the radioactive outcrop may then be analyzed for the indicator elements and any resulting anomalies used as a guide for prospecting where the depth of overburden is too great to allow the use of radiation-detecting instruments. Correlation coefficients of the associated indicator elements, used in conjunction with petrographic evidence, may also be useful in interpreting the origin and paragenesis of radioactive deposits. Changes in color of limonite stains on the outcrop may also be a useful guide to ore in some areas.

Chemical Composition of Rainwater in Córdoba City, Argentina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López, M. L.; Asar, M. L.; Ceppi, S.; Bürgesser, R. E.; Avila, E.

2013-05-01

Sampling and chemical analysis of rainwater has proved to be a useful technique for studying its chemical composition and provides a greater understanding of local and regional dispersion of pollutants and their potential impacts to ecosystems through deposition processes. Samples of rainwater were collected during 2009-2012, in Córdoba city, Argentina. Two kind of sampling were performed: event-specific and sequential. The objective of the first of these was to determine the chemical concentration of the total rain, while the objective of the second one was to analyze the variability of the chemical concentration during an individual rain event. The total volume of each sample was divided in halves. One half was filtered through 0.45 μm membrane filter. After this, all the samples were reduced by evaporation to a final volume of 10 ml. The non-filtered samples were acidified and digested in accordance to the method 3050B of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for acid digestion of sediments. Multi-elemental standard solutions in different concentrations were prepared by adequate dilutions. Gallium was added as an internal standard in all standard solutions and samples. Exactly 5 μL of these solutions were deposited on acrylic supports. When these droplets were dried, Synchrotron Radiation Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence technique was used for determining the chemical elements. Spectra were analyzed with the AXIL package for spectrum analysis. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the total reflection technique, the background of the measurements is significantly reduced and there are no matrix effects, therefore quantification can be obtained from the linear correlation between fluorescence intensity and the concentration of the element of interest. The elements quantified were S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, and Pb. For all of them a calibration curve was performed in order to quantify their concentrations on the samples. The results show that the average pH in city rainwater was pH=6.5; the elements found in the samples were S, Ca, Cu, Cr, Sr, P, Fe, Mn, Pb, K, Ti, V, Zn and the average concentrations of these elements were below the limits established by World Health Organization for drinking water, and show a high natural variability. The temporal evolution of inorganic ion concentration during rain events was analyzed and the scavenging coefficients were calculated and compared with data from literature. A comparison was made between the rainwater chemical composition and chemical composition in the aerosols scavenging during the rain. This study is the first in Córdoba city to analyze the chemical composition of rainwater and constitute a base for future comparison of variability in pH and elemental composition.

Spectral Interferences Manganese (Mn) - Europium (Eu) Lines in X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanc, Beril; Kaya, Mustafa; Gumus, Lokman; Kumral, Mustafa

2016-04-01

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is widely used for quantitative and semi quantitative analysis of many major, minor and trace elements in geological samples. Some advantages of the XRF method are; non-destructive sample preparation, applicability for powder, solid, paste and liquid samples and simple spectrum that are independent from chemical state. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of the XRF methods such as poor sensitivity for low atomic number elements, matrix effect (physical matrix effects, such as fine versus course grain materials, may impact XRF performance) and interference effect (the spectral lines of elements may overlap distorting results for one or more elements). Especially, spectral interferences are very significant factors for accurate results. In this study, semi-quantitative analyzed manganese (II) oxide (MnO, 99.99%) was examined. Samples were pelleted and analyzed with XRF spectrometry (Bruker S8 Tiger). Unexpected peaks were obtained at the side of the major Mn peaks. Although sample does not contain Eu element, in results 0,3% Eu2O3 was observed. These result can occur high concentration of MnO and proximity of Mn and Eu lines. It can be eliminated by using correction equation or Mn concentration can confirm with other methods (such as Atomic absorption spectroscopy). Keywords: Spectral Interferences; Manganese (Mn); Europium (Eu); X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Spectrum.

Quantification of main and trace metal components in the fly ash of waste-to-energy plants located in Germany and Switzerland: An overview and comparison of concentration fluctuations within and between several plants with particular focus on valuable metals.

PubMed

Haberl, Jasmin; Koralewska, Ralf; Schlumberger, Stefan; Schuster, Michael

2018-05-01

The elemental composition of fly ash from six waste-to-energy (WTE) plants in Germany and two WTE plants in Switzerland were analyzed. Samples were taken daily over a period of one month and mixed to a composite sample for each German plant. From two Swiss plants, two and three of these composite samples, respectively, were collected for different months in order to assess temporal differences between these months. In total, 61 elements, including rare earth elements, were analyzed using ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The analysis method was validated for 44 elements either by reference materials (BCR 176R and NIST 1633c) or analysis with both methods. Good recoveries, mostly ±10%, and high agreements between both methods were achieved. As long as no additives from flue gas cleaning were mixed with the fly ash, quite similar element contents were observed between all of the different incinerators. For most elements, the variations between the different months within the two Swiss plants were lower than differences between various plants. Especially main components show low variations between different months. To get a more detailed insight into temporal fluctuations within the mentioned Swiss plants, the concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Sb, and Sn are presented over a period of three years (Jan. 2015 - Oct. 2017). The concentration profiles are based on weekly composite samples (consisting of daily taken samples) analyzed by the routine control of these plants using ED-XRF. The standard deviations of the average concentrations were around 20% over the three years for the regarded elements. The fluctuations were comparable at both plants. Due to the relatively low temporal concentration fluctuations observed within the plants, fly ash would be a continuous and constant source of secondary raw materials. Beside Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd, which were already recovered on an industrial scale, Sb, Sn, and Bi also show a high potential as secondary raw material due to the high concentration of these elements in fly ash. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of inorganic element ratios to chemometrics for determination of the geographic origin of welsh onions.

PubMed

Ariyama, Kaoru; Horita, Hiroshi; Yasui, Akemi

2004-09-22

The composition of concentration ratios of 19 inorganic elements to Mg (hereinafter referred to as 19-element/Mg composition) was applied to chemometric techniques to determine the geographic origin (Japan or China) of Welsh onions (Allium fistulosum L.). Using a composition of element ratios has the advantage of simplified sample preparation, and it was possible to determine the geographic origin of a Welsh onion within 2 days. The classical technique based on 20 element concentrations was also used along with the new simpler one based on 19 elements/Mg in order to validate the new technique. Twenty elements, Na, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, Co, Ni, Rb, Mo, Cd, Cs, La, Ce, and Tl, in 244 Welsh onion samples were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) on 20-element concentrations and 19-element/Mg composition was applied to these analytical data, and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) on 19-element/Mg composition was applied to these analytical data. The results showed that techniques based on 19-element/Mg composition were effective. LDA, based on 19-element/Mg composition for classification of samples from Japan and from Shandong, Shanghai, and Fujian in China, classified 101 samples used for modeling 97% correctly and predicted another 119 samples excluding 24 nonauthentic samples 93% correctly. In discriminations by 10 times of SIMCA based on 19-element/Mg composition modeled using 101 samples, 220 samples from known production areas including samples used for modeling and excluding 24 nonauthentic samples were predicted 92% correctly.

Trace geochemistry of lunar material

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morrison, G. H.

1974-01-01

The lunar samples from the Apollo 16 and 17 flights which were analyzed include soil, igneous rock, anorthositic gabbro, orange soil, subfloor basalt, and norite breccia. Up to 57 elements including majors, minors, rare earths and other trace elements were determined in the lunar samples. The analytical techniques used were spark source mass spectrometry and neutron activation analysis. The latter was done either instrumentally or with group radiochemical separations. The differences in abundances of the elements in lunar soils at the various sites are discussed. With regard to the major elements only Si is about the same at all the sites. A detailed analysis which was performed on a sample of the Allende meteorite is summarized.

The influence of seafloor hydrothermal activity on major and trace elements of the sediments from the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Xin; Chen, Shuai; Zeng, Zhigang; Pu, Xiaoqiang; Hou, Qinghua

2017-10-01

Sediment samples obtained from the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge were analyzed for the major and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results revealed that the contents of elements (e.g., Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, V, Co) were high in samples 22V-TVG10 and 26V-TVG05 from the sites near the hydrothermal areas, and low in sample 22V-TVG14, which was collected far from the hydrothermal areas. The contents of Ca, Sr and Ba in the samples showed opposite trends. A positive correlation between the concentrations of metallic elements (Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, Pb, V) and Fe in the samples were observed. These results are consistent with chemical evolution of the dispersing hydrothermal plume.

Standardization of proton-induced x-ray emission technique for analysis of thick samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Shad; Zeb, Johar; Ahad, Abdul; Ahmad, Ishfaq; Haneef, M.; Akbar, Jehan

2015-09-01

This paper describes the standardization of the proton-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) technique for finding the elemental composition of thick samples. For the standardization, three different samples of standard reference materials (SRMs) were analyzed using this technique and the data were compared with the already known data of these certified SRMs. These samples were selected in order to cover the maximum range of elements in the periodic table. Each sample was irradiated for three different values of collected beam charges at three different times. A proton beam of 2.57 MeV obtained using 5UDH-II Pelletron accelerator was used for excitation of x-rays from the sample. The acquired experimental data were analyzed using the GUPIXWIN software. The results show that the SRM data and the data obtained using the PIXE technique are in good agreement.

[Determination of heavy metals in four traditional Chinese medicines by ICP-MS].

PubMed

Wen, Hui-Min; Chen, Xiao-Hui; Dong, Ting-Xia; Zhan, Hua-Qiang; Bi, Kai-Shun

2006-08-01

To establish a ICP-MS method for the determination of heavy metals, including As, Hg, Pb, Cd, in four traditional Chinese medicines. The samples were digested by closed-versel microwave. The four heavy metals were directly analyzed by ICP-MS. Select internal standard element in for the method by which the analyse signal drife is corrected by the signal of another element (internal standard elements) added to both the standard solution and sample. For all of the analyzed heary methals, the correlative coefficient of the calibration curves was over 0.999 2. The recovery rates of the procedure were 97.5%-108.0%, and its RSD was lower than 11.6%. This method was convenient, quick-acquired, accurate and highly sensitive. The method can be used for the quality control of trace elements in traditional Chinese medicines and for the contents determination of traditional Chinese medicines from different habitats and species.

A comprehensive analysis of the content of heavy rare-earth elements and platinum in snow samples to assess the ecological hazard of air pollution in urban areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vinokurov, S. F.; Tarasova, N. P.; Trunova, A. N.; Sychkova, V. A.

2017-07-01

Snow samples from the territory of the Setun River Valley Wildlife Sanctuary are analyzed for the content of rare-earth elements, heavy metals, and other hazardous elements by the inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry method. The changes in the concentrations of rare-earth elements, Pt, Pd, and indicator ratios of elements in the solid fractions of snow are revealed. A trend toward a decrease in the content of several elements northeastward of the Moscow Ring Road (MRR) is established. The level of seasonal atmospheric contamination of the area under study is assessed, and a possible source is identified.

Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer for environmental monitoring of inorganic pollutants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, III, Benton C. (Inventor); Thornton, Michael G. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

A portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer has a portable sensor unit containing a battery, a high voltage power supply, an x-ray tube which produces a beam x-ray radiation directed toward a target sample, and a detector for fluorescent x-rays produced by the sample. If a silicon-lithium detector is used, the sensor unit also contains either a thermoelectric or thermochemical cooler, or a small dewar flask containing liquid nitrogen to cool the detector. A pulse height analyzer (PHA) generates a spectrum of data for each sample consisting of the number of fluorescent x-rays detected as a function of their energy level. The PHA can also store spectrum data for a number of samples in the field. A processing unit can be attached to the pulse height analyzer to upload and analyze the stored spectrum data for each sample. The processing unit provides a graphic display of the spectrum data for each sample, and provides qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the elemental composition of the sample by comparing the peaks in the sample spectrum against known x-ray energies for various chemical elements. An optional filtration enclosure can be used to filter particles from a sample suspension, either in the form of a natural suspension or a chemically created precipitate. The sensor unit is then temporarily attached to the filtration unit to analyze the particles collected by the filter medium.

Four reference soil and rock samples for measuring element availability in the Western Energy Regions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crock, J.G.; Severson, R.C.

1980-01-01

Attaining acceptable precision in extractable element determinations is more difficult than in total element determinations. In total element determinations, dissolution of the sample is qualitatively checked by the clarity of the solution and the absence of residues. These criteria cannot be used for extracts. Possibilities for error are introduced in virtually every step in soil extractions. Therefore, the use of reference materials whose homogeneity and element content are reasonably well known is essential for determination of extractable elements. In this report, estimates of homogeneity and element content are presented for four reference samples. Bulk samples of about 100 kilograms of each sample were ground to pass an 80-mesh sieve. The samples were homogenized and split using a Jones-type splitter. Fourteen splits of each reference sample were analyzed for total content of Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn; DTPA-extractable Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn; exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Na; cation exchange capacity water-saturation-extractable Ca, Mg, K, Na, C1, and SO4; soil pH; and hot-water-extractable boron. Error measured between splits was small, indicating that the samples were homogenized adequately and that the laboratory procedure provided reproducible results.

Stream-sediment samples reanalyzed for major, rare earth, and trace elements from ten 1:250,000-scale quadrangles, south-central Alaska, 2007-08

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bailey, Elizabeth A.; Shew, Nora B.; Labay, Keith A.; Schmidt, Jeanine M.; O'Leary, Richard M.; Detra, David E.

2010-01-01

During the 1960s through the 1980s, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted reconnaissance geochemical surveys of the drainage basins throughout most of the Anchorage, Bering Glacier, Big Delta, Gulkana, Healy, McCarthy, Mount Hayes, Nabesna, Talkeetna Mountains, and Valdez 1:250,000-scale quadrangles in Alaska as part of the Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program (AMRAP). These geochemical surveys provide data necessary to assess the potential for undiscovered mineral resources on public and other lands, and provide data that may be used to determine regional-scale element baselines. This report provides new data for 366 of the previously collected stream-sediment samples. These samples were selected for reanalysis because recently developed analytical methods can detect additional elements of interest and have lower detection limits than the methods used when these samples were originally analyzed. These samples were all analyzed for arsenic by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS), for gold, palladium, and platinum by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after lead button fire assay separation (FA/ICP-MS), and for a suite of 55 major, rare earth, and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-AES-MS) after sodium peroxide sinter at 450 degrees Celsius.

Analysis of 22 Elements in Milk, Feed, and Water of Dairy Cow, Goat, and Buffalo from Different Regions of China.

PubMed

Zhou, Xuewei; Qu, Xueyin; Zhao, Shengguo; Wang, Jiaqi; Li, Songli; Zheng, Nan

2017-03-01

The objectives of this study were to measure the concentrations of elements in raw milk by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and evaluate differences in element concentrations among animal species and regions of China. Furthermore, drinking water and feed samples were analyzed to investigate whether the element concentrations in raw milk are correlated with those in water and feed. All samples were analyzed by ICP-MS following microwave-assisted acid digestion. The mean recovery of the elements was 98.7 % from milk, 103.7 % from water, and 93.3 % from a certified reference material (cabbage). Principal component analysis results revealed that element concentrations differed among animal species and regions. Correlation analysis showed that trace elements Mn, Fe, Ni, Ga, Se, Sr, Cs, U in water and Co, Ni, Cu, Se, U in feed were significantly correlated with those in milk (p < 0.05). Toxic and potential toxic elements Cr, As, Cd, Tl, Pb in water and Al, Cr, As, Hg, Tl in feed were significantly correlated with those in milk (p < 0.05). Results of correlation analysis revealed that elements in water and feed might contribute to the elements in milk.

Organochlorine compounds and trace elements in fish tissue and bed sediments in the lower Snake River basin, Idaho and Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clark, Gregory M.; Maret, Terry R.

1998-01-01

Fish-tissue and bed-sediment samples were collected to determine the occurrence and distribution of organochlorine compounds and trace elements in the lower Snake River Basin. Whole-body composite samples of suckers and carp from seven sites were analyzed for organochlorine compounds; liver samples were analyzed for trace elements. Fillets from selected sportfish were analyzed for organochlorine compounds and trace elements. Bed-sediment samples from three sites were analyzed for organochlorine compounds and trace elements. Twelve different organochlorine compounds were detected in 14 fish-tissue samples. All fish-tissue samples contained DDT or its metabolites. Concentrations of total DDT ranged from 11 micrograms per kilogram wet weight in fillets of yellow perch from C.J. Strike Reservoir to 3,633 micrograms per kilogram wet weight in a whole-body sample of carp from Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River. Total DDT concentrations in whole-body samples of sucker and carp from the Snake River at C.J. Strike Reservoir, Snake River at Swan Falls, Snake River at Nyssa, and Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River exceeded criteria established for the protection of fish-eating wildlife. Total PCB concentrations in a whole-body sample of carp from Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River also exceeded fish-eating wildlife criteria. Concentrations of organochlorine compounds in whole-body samples, in general, were larger than concentrations in sportfish fillets. However, concentrations of dieldrin and total DDT in fillets of channel catfish from the Snake River at Nyssa and Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River, and concentrations of total DDT in fillets of smallmouth bass and white crappie from Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River exceeded a cancer risk screening value of 10-6 established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Concentrations of organochlorine compounds in bed sediment were smaller than concentrations in fish tissue. Concentrations of p,p'DDE, the only compound detected in all three bed-sediment samples, ranged from 1.1 micrograms per kilogram dry weight in C.J. Strike Reservoir to 11 micrograms per kilogram dry weight in Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River. Data from this study, compared with data collected in the upper Snake River Basin from 1992 to 1994, indicates that, in general, organochlorine concentrations in fish tissue and bed sediment increased from the headwaters of the Snake River in Wyoming downstream to Brownlee Reservoir. The largest trace-element concentrations in fish tissue were in liver samples from carp from Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River and suckers from the Boise River near Twin Springs. Concentrations of most trace elements were larger in livers than in the sport- fish fillets. However, mercury concentrations were generally larger in the sportfish fillets; they ranged from 0.08 microgram per gram wet weight in yellow perch from C.J. Strike Reservoir to 0.32 microgram per gram wet weight in channel catfish from Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River. None of the trace-element concentrations in fillets exceeded median international standards or U.S. Food and Drug Administration action levels. Large trace-element concentrations in the upper Snake River Basin were reported in liver samples from suckers from headwater streams, probably a result of historical mining and weathering of metal-rich rocks. Concentrations of most trace elements in the bed-sediment samples were largest in Brownlee Reservoir at Mountain Man Lodge. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc in bed sediment from the Mountain Man Lodge site exceeded either the threshold effect level or probable effect level established by the Canadian Government for the protection of benthic life. Arsenic, chromium, copper, and nickel concentrations in bed sediment from Brownlee Reservoir at Burnt River and chromium, copper, and nickel in bed sediment from C.J. Strike Reservoir also exceeded the threshold effect level.

Concentration of trace elements on branded cigarette in Malaysia

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Azman, Muhammad Azfar, E-mail: m-azfar@nuclearmalaysia.gov.my; Hamzah, Suhaimi; Rahman, Shamsiah Abdul

Tobacco is a plant that is used as a recreational drug since the beginning of its use by the Native Americans. Now with the development of the tobacco industry, smoking has become a norm for the public in Malaysia. Trace elements in plants are mostly due to the uptake processes from the soils into the roots of the plants. The concentration of the elements may also be influenced by the elements contained in the water and also fertilizers. This paper aim to analyze the concentration of the trace elements contained in the branded cigarettes sold in Malaysia by utilizing themore » neutron activation analysis. The tobaccos were taken out from the cigarettes. The collected samples were air dried and passed through 2 mm sieve. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) has been used for the determination of trace elements. Samples were activated in the Nuclear Malaysia Triga Mark II reactor with a neutron flux of 2.0 x 10{sup 12} n cm{sup -2} s{sup -1}. The samples then were analyzed using ORTEC Gamma Spectrometer a co-axial n-type HPGe detector with resolution of 2.0 keV at 1332 keV and relative efficiency of 20%. The data obtained could help in assessing the concentration of the trace elements that complying with the standard limitation dose proposed by World Health Organization (WHO)« less

Relation between urbanization and water quality of streams in the Austin area, Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Veenhuis, J.E.; Slade, R.M.

1990-01-01

The ratio of the number of samples with detectable concentrations to the total number of samples analyzed for 18 inorganic trace elements and the concentrations of many of these minor constituents increased with increasing development classifications. Twenty-two of the 42 synthetic organic compounds for which samples were analyzed were detected in one or more samples. The compounds were detected more frequently and in larger concentrations at the sites with more urban classifications.

Evaluation of organic compounds and trace elements in Amazon Creek Basin, Oregon, September 1990

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rinella, F.A.

1993-01-01

Water and bottom sediment were collected from Amazon Creek, Oregon during a summer low-flow condition and analyzed for different classes of organic compounds, including many from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's priority pollutant list. Bottom sediment also was analyzed for trace elements typically associated with urban runoff. Trace-element concentrations in the less than 63 micrometer fraction of Amazon Creek bottom-sediment samples were compared with baseline concentrations (expected 95 percent confidence range) for soils from the Western United States and with concen- trations found in bottom sediment from the Willamette River Basin. Total-digestion concentrations of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver, titanium, and zinc were enriched at some or all sites sampled. Whole-water samples from some sites contained concentrations of several chlorophenoxy-acid herbicides, the organophosphorus insecticide diazinon, and several semivolatile priority pollutants. Classes of compounds not detected in whole-water samples included carbamate insecticides, triazine and other nitrogen-containing herbicides, and purgeable organic compounds. Bottom-sediment samples contained many organochlorine compounds, including chlordane, DDT plus metabolites, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor epoxide (a metabolite of heptachlor), and PCBs at some or all sites sampled. Twenty-four of 54 semivolatile compounds were detected in bottom- sediment samples at some or all sites sampled.

Determination of trace elements in honey from different regions in Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil) by total reflection X-ray fluorescence.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Roberta de Oliveira Resende; Mársico, Eliane Teixeira; de Jesus, Edgar Francisco Oliveira; da Silva Carneiro, Carla; Júnior, Carlos Adam Conte; de Almeida, Eduardo; Filho, Virgílio Franco do Nascimento

2014-04-01

Trace and minor elements in Brazilian honey were analyzed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Up to 12 elements (K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, and Sr) were detected in 160 samples of honey from 4 regions of Rio de Janeiro State (Barra Mansa, Teresópolis, northern and southern Nova Friburgo). The results showed the samples from Teresópolis had higher rates of essential and nonessential elements than samples from the other regions, except for Ni. K and Ca were the most abundant elements in all samples, in the range of 116.5 to 987.0 μg g(-1) . Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, and Sr were identified in small concentrations (0.01 to 12.08 μg g(-1) ) in all samples, indicating a low level of contamination in all the regions. © 2014 Institute of Food Technologists®

Comparison on humus and soil geochemical baselines in Southern Finland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minolfi, Giulia; Tarvainen, Timo; Jarva, Jaana

2016-04-01

Humus has been recognized since a survey in 1977 (Allen and Steinnes, 1980) as one of the best sampling media for mapping regional environmental contamination because of the strong geochemical contrast between anomalous and background concentrations resulting from its capacity to accumulate high levels of trace metals. This study is in the framework of the comparison between humus, topsoil and moss deposition data, in order to analyze the humus behavior and to find possible similarities to underlying geology and long-range atmospheric deposition. The analyzed samples are part of a geochemical mapping programme carried out by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK); subsoil, topsoil and humus samples have been collected in a large area in Southern Finland since 2002. 816 sample pairs (humus and topsoil samples) were selected for statistical analysis. Statistical graphs, like histograms, CP plots and box plots, were realized for 31 elements, and showed that most of the elements have completely different distribution of concentrations in humus and in topsoil samples. Then the correlation between the element concentrations in humus and minerogenic topsoil has been evaluated measuring the Spearman rank correlation value and elaborating scatter plots between the element concentrations in humus and minerogenic topsoil, and between the content of the element vs. the content of organic C. The concentrations of some elements, like K, Mg, Fe, Al, in humus samples are controlled by the content of mineral matter, derived by the soil dust. Other elements, such as As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Th, V and Zn showed evident outliers, with probable anthropogenic origin. In order to explain these anomalous high values in humus, the geographic distributions of these elements in humus and topsoil were analyzed and then compared to the deposition data obtained by the national moss data. High values appear in areas where the anthropogenic impact is strong, like the Harjavalta area, where older emissions from the smelter still cause anomaly patterns in some elements, and the more densely populated and industrialized areas, like the city of Tampere and the coastline from Porvoo to the capital region of Helsinki. According to the results presented here, the humus concentrations are more affected by the atmospheric impact than by the lithogenic contributes. Because of the great anthropogenic influence on humus concentrations, that causes locally high anomalies, even after many years, new humus samples should be collected, in order to improve the knowledge about humus behavior and anthropogenic input to the topmost layer of ground surface. REFERENCES Allen, R. O., & Steinnes, E. 1980. Contribution from long-range atmospheric transport to the heavy metal pollution of surface soil. D Drabløs, A Tollan (Eds.), Ecological impact of acid precipitation, SNSF Project, Oslo-Ås (1980), pp. 102-103.

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Uuu... - Determination of Metal Concentration on Catalyst Particles (Instrumental Analyzer Procedure)

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... either energy or wavelength dispersive X-ray flourescent (XRF) spectrometry instrumental analyzers. In both types of XRF spectrometers, the instrument irradiates the sample with high energy (primary) x-rays and the elements in the sample absorb the x-rays and then re-emit secondary (fluorescent) x-rays of...

40 CFR Appendix A to Subpart Uuu... - Determination of Metal Concentration on Catalyst Particles (Instrumental Analyzer Procedure)

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... either energy or wavelength dispersive X-ray flourescent (XRF) spectrometry instrumental analyzers. In both types of XRF spectrometers, the instrument irradiates the sample with high energy (primary) x-rays and the elements in the sample absorb the x-rays and then re-emit secondary (fluorescent) x-rays of...

Evaluation of a new optic-enabled portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry instrument for measuring toxic metals/metalloids in consumer goods and cultural products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guimarães, Diana; Praamsma, Meredith L.; Parsons, Patrick J.

2016-08-01

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) is a rapid, non-destructive multi-elemental analytical technique used for determining elemental contents ranging from percent down to the μg/g level. Although detection limits are much higher for XRF compared to other laboratory-based methods, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ICP-optical emission spectrometry (OES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), its portability and ease of use make it a valuable tool, especially for field-based studies. A growing necessity to monitor human exposure to toxic metals and metalloids in consumer goods, cultural products, foods and other sample types while performing the analysis in situ has led to several important developments in portable XRF technology. In this study, a new portable XRF analyzer based on the use of doubly curved crystal optics (HD Mobile®) was evaluated for detecting toxic elements in foods, medicines, cosmetics and spices used in many Asian communities. Two models of the HD Mobile® (a pre-production and a final production unit) were investigated. Performance parameters including accuracy, precision and detection limits were characterized in a laboratory setting using certified reference materials (CRMs) and standard solutions. Bias estimates for key elements of public health significance such as As, Cd, Hg and Pb ranged from - 10% to 11% for the pre-production, and - 14% to 16% for the final production model. Five archived public health samples including herbal medicine products, ethnic spices and cosmetic products were analyzed using both XRF instruments. There was good agreement between the pre-production and final production models for the four key elements, such that the data were judged to be fit-for-purpose for the majority of samples analyzed. Detection of the four key elements of interest using the HD Mobile® was confirmed using archived samples for which ICP-OES data were available based on digested sample materials. The HD Mobile® XRF units were shown to be suitable for rapid screening of samples likely to be encountered in field based studies.

On-line hydrogen-isotope measurements of organic samples using elemental chromium: An extension for high temperature elemental-analyzer techniques

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gehre, Matthias; Renpenning, Julian; Gilevska, Tetyana; Qi, Haiping; Coplen, Tyler B.; Meijer, Harro A.J.; Brand, Willi A.; Schimmelmann, Arndt

2015-01-01

The high temperature conversion (HTC) technique using an elemental analyzer with a glassy carbon tube and filling (temperature conversion/elemental analysis, TC/EA) is a widely used method for hydrogen isotopic analysis of water and many solid and liquid organic samples with analysis by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). However, the TC/EA IRMS method may produce inaccurate δ2H results, with values deviating by more than 20 mUr (milliurey = 0.001 = 1‰) from the true value for some materials. We show that a single-oven, chromium-filled elemental analyzer coupled to an IRMS substantially improves the measurement quality and reliability for hydrogen isotopic compositions of organic substances (Cr-EA method). Hot chromium maximizes the yield of molecular hydrogen in a helium carrier gas by irreversibly and quantitatively scavenging all reactive elements except hydrogen. In contrast, under TC/EA conditions, heteroelements like nitrogen or chlorine (and other halogens) can form hydrogen cyanide (HCN) or hydrogen chloride (HCl) and this can cause isotopic fractionation. The Cr-EA technique thus expands the analytical possibilities for on-line hydrogen-isotope measurements of organic samples significantly. This method yielded reproducibility values (1-sigma) for δ2H measurements on water and caffeine samples of better than 1.0 and 0.5 mUr, respectively. To overcome handling problems with water as the principal calibration anchor for hydrogen isotopic measurements, we have employed an effective and simple strategy using reference waters or other liquids sealed in silver-tube segments. These crimped silver tubes can be employed in both the Cr-EA and TC/EA techniques. They simplify considerably the normalization of hydrogen-isotope measurement data to the VSMOW-SLAP (Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water-Standard Light Antarctic Precipitation) scale, and their use improves accuracy of the data by eliminating evaporative loss and associated isotopic fractionation while handling water as a bulk sample. The calibration of organic samples, commonly having high δ2H values, will benefit from the availability of suitably 2H-enriched reference waters, extending the VSMOW-SLAP scale above zero.

Honeybees and honey as monitors for heavy metal contamination near thermal power plants in Mugla, Turkey.

PubMed

Silici, Sibel; Uluozlu, Ozgur Dogan; Tuzen, Mustafa; Soylak, Mustafa

2016-03-01

In the present work, 6 honeydew samples of known geographical and botanical origins and 11 honeybee samples were analyzed to detect possible contamination by the thermoelectric power plants in Mugla, Turkey. The contents of trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after application of microwave digestion. The samples from the thermal power plants, which were 10-22 km away from the hives, that did not cause pollution in honeydew honeys were also analyzed. The levels of copper, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc, manganese, iron, chromium, nickel, and aluminum were similar to the values found in other recent studies in literature. However, it was found that the contamination levels of the toxic elements such as Pb and Cd in honeybee samples measured relatively higher than that of honey samples. The study concludes that honeybees may be better bioindicators of heavy metal pollution than honey. © The Author(s) 2013.

Ion microprobe mass analysis of lunar samples. Lunar sample program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, C. A.; Hinthorne, J. R.

1971-01-01

Mass analyses of selected minerals, glasses and soil particles of lunar, meteoritic and terrestrial rocks have been made with the ion microprobe mass analyzer. Major, minor and trace element concentrations have been determined in situ in major and accessory mineral phases in polished rock thin sections. The Pb isotope ratios have been measured in U and Th bearing accessory minerals to yield radiometric age dates and heavy volatile elements have been sought on the surfaces of free particles from Apollo soil samples.

Concentrations of selected trace elements in fish tissue and streambed sediment in the Clark Fork-Pend Oreille and Spokane River basins, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, 1998

USGS Publications Warehouse

Maret, Terry R.; Skinner, K.D.

2000-01-01

Fish tissue and bed sediment samples were collected from 16 stream sites in the Northern Rockies Intermontane Basins study area in 1998 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program. Bed sediment samples were analyzed for 45 trace elements, and fish livers and sportfish fillets were analyzed for 22 elements to characterize the occurrence and distribution of these elements in relation to stream characteristics and land use activities. Nine trace elements of environmental concern—arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc—were detected in bed sediment, but not all of these elements were detected in fish tissue. Trace-element concentrations were highest in bed sediment samples collected at sites downstream from significant natural mineral deposits and (or) mining activities. Arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc in bed sediment at some sites were elevated relative to national median concentrations, and some concentrations were at levels that can adversely affect aquatic biota. Although trace-element concentrations in bed sediment exceeded various guidelines, no concentrations in sportfish fillets exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency screening values for the protection of human health. Correlations between most trace-element concentrations in bed sediment and fish tissue (liver and fillet) were not significant (r0.05). Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc in bed sediment were significantly correlated (r=0.53 to 0.88, p2=0.95 and 0.99, p<0.001) that corresponded to trace-element enrichment categories. These strong relations warrant further study using mine density as an explanatory variable to predict trace-element concentrations in bed sediment.

Total mercury, methylmercury, and selected elements in soils of the Fishing Brook watershed, Hamilton County, New York, and the McTier Creek watershed, Aiken County, South Carolina, 2008

USGS Publications Warehouse

Woodruff, Laurel G.; Cannon, William F.; Knightes, Christopher D.; Chapelle, Francis H.; Bradley, Paul M.; Burns, Douglas A.; Brigham, Mark E.; Lowery, Mark A.

2010-01-01

Mercury is an element of on-going concern for human and aquatic health. Mercury sequestered in upland and wetland soils represents a source that may contribute to mercury contamination in sensitive ecosystems. An improved understanding of mercury cycling in stream ecosystems requires identification and quantification of mercury speciation and transport dynamics in upland and wetland soils within a watershed. This report presents data for soils collected in 2008 from two small watersheds in New York and South Carolina. In New York, 163 samples were taken from multiple depths or soil horizons at 70 separate locations near Fishing Brook, located in Hamilton County. At McTier Creek, in Aiken County, South Carolina, 81 samples from various soil horizons or soil depths were collected from 24 locations. Sample locations within each watershed were selected to characterize soil geochemistry in distinct land-cover compartments. Soils were analyzed for total mercury, selenium, total and carbonate carbon, and 42 other elements. A subset of the samples was also analyzed for methylmercury.

An analysis of human exposure to trace elements from deliberate soil ingestion and associated health risks.

PubMed

Ngole-Jeme, Veronica M; Ekosse, Georges-Ive E; Songca, Sandile P

2018-01-01

Fifty-seven samples of soils commonly ingested in South Africa, Swaziland, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Togo were analyzed for the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) and their bioaccessibility in the human gastrointestinal tract. Bioaccessibility values were used to calculate daily intake, and hazard quotient of each trace element, and chronic hazard index (CHI) of each sample. Carcinogenic risk associated with As and Ni exposure were also calculated. Mean pseudo-total concentrations of trace elements in all samples were 7.2, 83.3, 77.1, 15.4, 28.6, 24.9, 56.1, 2.8, and 26.5 mg/kg for As, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, respectively. Percent bioaccessibility of Pb (13-49%) and Zn (38-56%) were highest among trace elements studied. Average daily intake values were lower than their respective reference doses for ell elements except for Pb in selected samples. Samples from DRC presented the highest health risks associated with trace element exposure with most of the samples having CHI values between 0.5 and 1.0. Some samples had higher than unacceptable values of carcinogenic risk associated with As and Ni exposure. Results indicate low trace element exposure risk from ingesting most of the soil samples.

Near-real-time trace element measurements in a rural, traffic-influenced environment with some fireworks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furger, Markus; Slowik, Jay G.; Cruz Minguillón, María; Hueglin, Christoph; Koch, Chris; Prévôt, André S. H.; Baltensperger, Urs

2016-04-01

Aerosol-bound trace elements can affect the environment in significant ways especially when they are toxic. Characterizing the trace element spatial and temporal variability is a prerequisite for human exposure studies. The requirement for high time resolution and consequently the low sample masses asked for analysis methods not easily accessible, such as synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (SR-XRF). In recent years, instrumentation that samples and analyzes airborne particulate matter with time resolutions of less than an hour in near real time has entered the market. We present the results of a three-week campaign in a rural environment close to a freeway. The measurement period included the fireworks of the Swiss National Day. The XRF instrument was set up at the monitoring station Härkingen of the Swiss Monitoring Network for Air Pollution (NABEL). It was configured to sample and analyze ambient PM10 aerosols in 1-hour intervals. Sample analysis with XRF was performed by the instrument immediately after collection, i.e. during the next sampling interval. 24 elements were analyzed and quantified (Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pt, Hg, Pb, Bi). The element concentrations obtained by the XRF instrument were compared to those determined by ICP-AES and ICP-MS in PM10 samples collected by NABEL high volume samplers. The results demonstrate the capability of the instrument to measure over a wide range of concentrations, from a few ng m-3 to μg m-3, under ambient conditions. The time resolution allows for the characterization of diurnal variations of element concentrations, which provides information on the contribution of emission sources, such as road traffic, soil, or fireworks. Some elements (V, Co, As, Pt) were below their detection limit during most of the time, but As could be quantified during the fireworks. Transition metals Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn could be attributed to freeway traffic. K, S, Ba, and Bi were strongly linked to the fireworks. The field test provided good evidence for the applicability and ease of use of the instrument. It provided also an idea on the sensitivity of the method in realistic, ambient conditions, although the 3-week period was too short for a thorough assessment, e.g. for different weather conditions.

Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Cortez NTMS Quadrangle, Colorado/Utah, including concentrations of forty-three additional elements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Warren, R.G.

1979-05-01

During the summers of 1976, 1977, and 1978, 598 water and 1657 sediment samples were collected from 1775 locations within the 19,600-km/sup 2/ area of the Cortez Quadrangle, Colorado and Utah. Water samples were collected from streams, springs, and wells; sediment samples were collected from stream channels (wet and dry) and from springs. Each water sample was analyzed for 13 elements, and each sediment sample was analyzed for 43 elements. Uranium concentrations in water samples range from below the detection limit of 0.02 to 241.47 ppB and have a median of 0.87 ppB and a mean of 3.80 ppB. Backgroundmore » uranium concentrations are 2 to 5 ppB in several nonmountainous regions but are much lower in mountainous areas, particularly in the northeastern portion of the quadrangle. Water samples containing high uranium concentrations (>20 ppB) generally are associated with high conductivities, high concentrations of other metallic elements, and geologic units, such as the Mancos shale, that are unfavorable for uranium mineralization. However, four ground-water samples exhibit high uranium concentrations without concomitant high conductivities or high concentrations of other metallic elements. Two of these samples were collected from sites in the Slick Rock U--V district, and two were collected in the Morrison formation in the southern portion of the quadrangle where large uranium deposits are not known. Water samples collected from the northwestern corner of the quadrangle uniformly exhibit background uranium values but generally contain high nickel concentrations. In this area, U--Cu (White Canyon-type) deposits are hosted primarily by the Shinarump member of the Chinle formation. Uranium concentrations in sediment samples range from 0.51 to 76.41 ppM and have a median of 2.76 ppM and a mean of 3.08 ppM. Background uranium and metallic element concentrations decrease to the southwest from the highest values in the northeastern portion of the quadrangle.« less

Characterization of the quality of water, bed sediment, and fish in Mittry Lake, Arizona, 2014–15

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hermosillo, Edyth; Coes, Alissa L.

2017-03-01

Water, bed-sediment, and fish sampling was conducted in Mittry Lake, Arizona, in 2014–15 to establish current water-quality conditions of the lake. The parameters of temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, specific conductance, and alkalinity were measured in the field. Water samples were collected and analyzed for dissolved major ions, dissolved trace elements, dissolved nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved pesticides, bacteria, and suspended-sediment concentrations. Bed-sediment and fish samples were analyzed for trace elements, halogenated compounds, total mercury, and methylmercury.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency secondary maximum contaminant levels in drinking water were exceeded for sulfate, chloride, and manganese in the water samples. Trace-element concentrations were relatively similar between the inlet, middle, and outlet locations. Concentrations for nutrients in all water samples were below the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s water-quality standards for aquatic and wildlife uses, and all bacteria levels were below the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s recommended recreational water-quality criteria. Three out of 81 pesticides were detected in the water samples.Trace-element concentrations in bed sediment were relatively consistent between the inlet, middle, and outlet locations. Lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc concentrations, however, decreased from the inlet to outlet locations. Concentrations for lead, nickel, and zinc in some bed-sediment samples exceeded consensus-based sediment-quality guidelines probable effect concentrations. Eleven out of 61 halogenated compounds were detected in bed sediment at the inlet location, whereas three were detected at the middle location, and five were detected at the outlet location. No methylmercury was detected in bed sediment. Total mercury was detected in bed sediment at concentrations below the consensus-based sediment-quality guidelines probable effect concentration.Sixteen trace elements were detected in at least one of the fish-tissue samples, and trace-element concentrations were relatively consistent between the three fish-tissue samples. Seven halogenated compounds were detected in at least one of the whole-body fish samples; four to five compounds were detected in each fish. One fish-tissue sample exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency human health consumption criteria for methylmercury.

Determination of element composition and extraterrestrial material occurrence in moss and lichen samples from King George Island (Antarctica) using reactor neutron activation analysis and SEM microscopy.

PubMed

Mróz, Tomasz; Szufa, Katarzyna; Frontasyeva, Marina V; Tselmovich, Vladimir; Ostrovnaya, Tatiana; Kornaś, Andrzej; Olech, Maria A; Mietelski, Jerzy W; Brudecki, Kamil

2018-01-01

Seven lichens (Usnea antarctica and U. aurantiacoatra) and nine moss samples (Sanionia uncinata) collected in King George Island were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis, and concentration of major and trace elements was calculated. For some elements, the concentrations observed in moss samples were higher than corresponding values reported from other sites in the Antarctica, but in the lichens, these were in the same range of concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and statistical analysis showed large influence of volcanic-origin particles. Also, the interplanetary cosmic particles (ICP) were observed in investigated samples, as mosses and lichens are good collectors of ICP and micrometeorites.

A comparison of sample preparation strategies for biological tissues and subsequent trace element analysis using LA-ICP-MS.

PubMed

Bonta, Maximilian; Török, Szilvia; Hegedus, Balazs; Döme, Balazs; Limbeck, Andreas

2017-03-01

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is one of the most commonly applied methods for lateral trace element distribution analysis in medical studies. Many improvements of the technique regarding quantification and achievable lateral resolution have been achieved in the last years. Nevertheless, sample preparation is also of major importance and the optimal sample preparation strategy still has not been defined. While conventional histology knows a number of sample pre-treatment strategies, little is known about the effect of these approaches on the lateral distributions of elements and/or their quantities in tissues. The technique of formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE) has emerged as the gold standard in tissue preparation. However, the potential use for elemental distribution studies is questionable due to a large number of sample preparation steps. In this work, LA-ICP-MS was used to examine the applicability of the FFPE sample preparation approach for elemental distribution studies. Qualitative elemental distributions as well as quantitative concentrations in cryo-cut tissues as well as FFPE samples were compared. Results showed that some metals (especially Na and K) are severely affected by the FFPE process, whereas others (e.g., Mn, Ni) are less influenced. Based on these results, a general recommendation can be given: FFPE samples are completely unsuitable for the analysis of alkaline metals. When analyzing transition metals, FFPE samples can give comparable results to snap-frozen tissues. Graphical abstract Sample preparation strategies for biological tissues are compared with regard to the elemental distributions and average trace element concentrations.

Reconstruction of dietary habits on the basis of dental microwear and trace elements analysis of individuals from Gán cemetery (district Galanta, Slovakia).

PubMed

Tibenská, Kristína Domonkosová; Bodoriková, Silvia; Katina, Stanislav; Kovácsová, Veronika; Kubová, Jana; Takács, Michal

2010-01-01

The aim of the study was to determine the diet of a historical human population. Dental microwear and trace elements were analyzed. Although 38 individuals had been buried in the cemetery, only 13 of them were suitable for the analysis of trace elements and 17 skeletal remains for microwear analysis. Buccal microwear has been studied in a sample of 17 teeth from Gán cemetery. Teeth molds of the buccal surface were obtained and observed at 120x magnification with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Length and orientation of each striation have been determined with a SigmaScan Pro 5.0 image analysis program. The results of the analysis from Gán were compared with the previous study in a sample of 153 molar teeth from different modern hunter-gatherer, pastorals, and agriculturalist groups, with different diets (Inuit, Fueguians, Bushmen, Australian aborigines, Andaman's, Indians from Vancouver, Veddahs, Tasmanians, Lapps, and Hindus), preserved at museum collections. Buccal dental microwear density and length by orientation showed almost an inclination to hunter-gatherers from tropic and arid climates. The sample for the trace elements analysis consisted of 10 permanent molars and 3 permanent premolars. All analyzed teeth were intact, with fully developed roots, without dental caries, calculus and abrasion. Samples were analyzed using the method of optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Three elements: Ca, Sr, and Zn were chosen as basic diet determinants. Concentrations of these elements and their ratios were used for description of a relative proportion of plant and animal protein in a diet. The values of the Sr and Zn concentrations indicate that a diet of investigated population was rich in plant food. Higher Sr values in women can indicate lower proportion of animal protein in a diet, but significant differences have not been found. Differences between non-adult and adult individuals and between individuals with and without grave furnishings have also not been significant.

Composition of Atmospheric Dust from Qatar in the Arabian Gulf

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yigiterhan, O.; Al-Ansari, I. S.; Abdel-Moati, M.; Al-Ansi, M.; Paul, B.; Nelson, A.; Turner, J.; Murray, J. W.; Alfoldy, B. Z.; Mahfouz, M. M. K.; Giamberini, M.

2015-12-01

Samples of atmospheric dust from Qatar have been collected and analyzed for major and trace elemental composition. Twenty-one samples were collected in 2014 and 2015 from Doha, Al Khor, Katara, Sealine, and Al Waab by a variety of techniques. Some samples were collected during the megastorms that occurred in April 2015. Back trajectories were determined for each sample using the NOAA HYSPLIT model over a 50 hour time interval. Our samples were about equally divided between northerly (n=12; northern Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Iraq) and southerly (n=8; SE Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman) sources. One sample originated directly westward, in Saudi Arabia. Samples were microwave-assisted total acid digested (HF+HCl+HNO3) and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). There are only 12 out of 23 elements for which the Qatari dust was enriched relative to upper continental crust (UCC). Calcium was especially enriched at 400% relative to UCC. About 33% of the total sample mass was CaCO3, reflecting the composition of surface rocks in the source areas. Of the elements typically associated with anthropogenic activity, Ag, Ni and Zn were the most enriched relative to UCC, with enrichment factors of 182%, 233% and 209%, respectively. Others like Pb and V were not significantly enriched, with enrichment factors of 25% and 3%, respectively. The major elements Al, Mn and Fe were depleted relative to UCC because of the strong enrichment in CaCO3, with enrichment factors of -58%, -35% and -45% respectively. We separately averaged the samples with northern and southern origins to see if composition could be used to identify source. Only three elements had a statistical difference. Pb and Na were higher in the samples from the Se while Cr was higher in those from the north.

Organochlorine compounds and trace elements in fish tissue and streambed sediment in the Mobile River Basin, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, 1998

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zappia, Humbert

2002-01-01

During the summer of 1998, as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, a survey was conducted to determine which organochlorine compounds and trace elements occur in fish tissues and streambed sediments in the Mobile River Basin, which includes parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. The data collected were compared to guidelines related to wildlife, land use, and to 1991 and 1994 National Water-Quality Assessment Program Study-Unit data.Twenty-one sites were sampled in subbasins of the Mobile River Basin. The subbasins ranged in size from about 9 to 22,000 square miles and were dominated by either a single land use or a combination of land uses. The major land-use categories were urban, agriculture, and forest.Organochlorine compounds were widespread spatially in the Mobile River Basin. At least one organochlorine compound was reported at the majority of sampling sites (84 percent) and in a majority of whole-fish (80 percent) and streambed-sediment (52 percent) samples. Multiple organochlorine compounds were reported at 75 percent of the sites where fish tissues were collected and were reported at many of the streambed-sediment sampling sites (45 percent). The majority of concentrations reported, however, were less than 5 micrograms per kilogram in fish-tissue samples and less than 1 microgram per kilogram in streambed-sediment samples.The majority of trace elements analyzed in fish-liver tissue (86 percent) and streambed-sediment (98 percent) samples were reported during this study. Multiple trace elements were reported in all samples and at all sites.Based on comparisons of concentrations of organochlorine compounds and trace elements in fish-tissue and streambed-sediment samples in relation to National Academy of Science and National Academy of Engineering and Canadian tissue guidelines, probable-effects concentrations, and mean probable-effects concentration quotients for streambed sediment, the potential exists for adverse effects to wildlife at 15 (72 percent) of the sites sampled. The potential for adverse effects at these sites is because of the presence of residues or breakdown products related to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB?s), chlordane, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), chromium, lead, and zinc.The majority of compounds reported (65 percent) were chlordane, DDT, and PCB?s, or their breakdown products. Concentrations of chlordane and heptachlor epoxide in whole-fish tissue were positively correlated to the amount of urban land use in a basin. Total DDT concentrations in whole-fish tissues were positively correlated to agriculture.The relation of trace elements to land use is not as clear as the relation of organochlorine compounds to land use. This lack of clarity may be due to the possibility of geologic sources of trace elements in the Mobile River Basin and to the ubiquitous nature of many of these trace elements. However, there may be a correlation between the amount of urban land use and concentrations of antimony, cadmium, lead, and zinc in streambed-sediment samples from the Mobile River Basin.Fewer organochlorine compounds and trace elements were reported in samples from the Mobile River Basin than in samples collected during the 1991 and 1994 National Water-Quality Assessment Program studies. Of the organochlorine compounds analyzed nationally, 57 percent were reported in whole-fish tissue samples collected locally and 41 percent were reported in streambed-sediment samples collected locally, whereas 96 percent and 86 percent, respectively, were reported nationally. Of trace elements analyzed nationally, 86 percent were reported in fish-liver tissue locally and 95 percent were reported in streambed-sediment samples locally, whereas 95 percent and 98 percent, respectively, were reported nationally.In general, concentrations of organochlorine compounds and trace elements and the frequency with which they were reported in the Mobile River Basin are similar to or less than t

Lead theft--a study of the "uniqueness" of lead from church roofs.

PubMed

Bond, John W; Hainsworth, Sarah V; Lau, Tien L

2013-07-01

In the United Kingdom, theft of lead is common, particularly from churches and other public buildings with lead roofs. To assess the potential to distinguish lead from different sources, 41 samples of lead from 24 church roofs in Northamptonshire, U.K, have been analyzed for relative abundance of trace elements and isotopes of lead using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively. XRF revealed the overall presence of 12 trace elements with the four most abundant, calcium, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur, showing a large weight percentage standard error of the mean of all samples suggesting variation in the weight percentage of these elements between different church roofs. Multiple samples from the same roofs, but different lead sheets, showed much lower weight percentage standard errors of the mean suggesting similar trace element concentrations. Lead isotope ratios were similar for all samples. Factors likely to affect the occurrence of these trace elements are discussed. © 2013 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Determination of toxic inorganic elements pollution in ground waters of Kahuta Industrial Triangle Islamabad, Pakistan using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Kausar, Rubina; Ahmad, Zulfiqar

2009-10-01

The present study deals with the ground water quality assessment in Kahuta Industrial Triangle Islamabad, Pakistan. The objective of the study was to assess ground water quality against the drinking water standards for various toxic inorganic elements. Representative groundwater samples were collected and analyzed in the Water Quality Laboratory of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) at Islamabad, Pakistan. The samples were run on ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), which has the capability to separate and quantify 70 elements at a time. One of the finding of study is that ICP-MS is a very good tool to analyze broad range of toxic inorganic elements to the level of parts per billion (ppb). World Health Organization drinking water standards shows that these toxic inorganic elements such as heavy metals even at this concentration level (ppb) are injurious to human health. This analysis indicated pollution of various toxic elements including Selenium. Vertical leachate through industrial waste septic tanks is identified as major cause of groundwater pollution in the Industrial Triangle. Monitoring of the septic tanks and groundwater quality in study area is suggested along with remedial measures.

Composition and Source Identification of Chemical Species in Dust from Selected Indoor Environments in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogundele, Lasun T.; Olasinde, Roseline T.; Owoade, Oyediran K.; Olise, Felix S.

2018-05-01

This study presents the elemental compositions and concentrations of indoor dust and identifies the major sources in some selected indoor environments in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The dust samples were collected from 16 indoor environments comprising offices, churches, residential and staff quarters using a cyclonic high power vacuum cleaner. The dust samples were analyzed for elemental concentrations using x-ray fluorescences. The data sets were analyzed for the possible sources and their contributions using Principal Component Factor Analysis (PCFA). The result showed that dust samples contained several elements: K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Se, Zr, V, and Sc. The PCFA identified three factors with the percentage variance of 92, 77, 71 and 68%, for the office, church, residential, and staff quarters, respectively, for the combined elemental data of each of the site classes. The identified sources were track-in-soil, road and windblown soil dust, paint debris, household dust from personal care materials, cooking, and cleaning activities. The unintentional track-in-soil due to mobility of the occupants, structural materials, and outdoor air was the major sources contributing to the indoor dust.

Surface-water-quality assessment of the upper Illinois River Basin in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin; fixed-station network and selected water-quality data for April 1987-September 1990

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sullivan, Daniel J.; Blanchard, Stephen F.

1994-01-01

This report describes and presents the sampling design, methods, quality assurance methods and results, and information on how to obtain data collected at eight fixed stations in the upper Illinois River Basin as part of the pilot phase of the National Water-Quality Assessment program. Data were collected monthly from April 1987-August l990; these data were supplemented with data collected during special events, including high and low flows. Each fixed station represents a cross section at which the transport of selected dissolved and suspended materials can be computed. Samples collected monthly and during special events were analyzed for concentrations of major ions, nutrients, trace elements, organic carbon, chlorophyll-a, suspended sediment, and other constituents. Field measurements of water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and indicator bacteria also were made at each site. Samples of suspended sediment were analyzed for concentrations of major ions and trace elements. In addition, samples were analyzed seasonally for concentrations of antimony, bromide, molybdenum, and the radionuclides gross alpha and gross beta.

Reconnaissance soil geochemistry at the Riverton Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Site, Fremont County, Wyoming

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, David B.; Sweat, Michael J.

2012-01-01

Soil samples were collected and chemically analyzed from the Riverton Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Site, which lies within the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fremont County, Wyoming. Nineteen soil samples from a depth of 0 to 5 centimeters were collected in August 2011 from the site. The samples were sieved to less than 2 millimeters and analyzed for 44 major and trace elements following a near-total multi-acid extraction. Soil pH was also determined. The geochemical data were compared to a background dataset consisting of 160 soil samples previously collected from the same depth throughout the State of Wyoming as part of another ongoing study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Risk from potentially toxic elements in soil from the site to biologic receptors and humans was estimated by comparing the concentration of these elements with soil screening values established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All 19 samples exceeded the carcinogenic human health screening level for arsenic in residential soils of 0.39 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), which represents a one-in-one-million cancer risk (median arsenic concentration in the study area is 2.7 mg/kg). All 19 samples also exceeded the lead and vanadium screening levels for birds. Eighteen of the 19 samples exceeded the manganese screening level for plants, 13 of the 19 samples exceeded the antimony screening level for mammals, and 10 of 19 samples exceeded the zinc screening level for birds. However, these exceedances are also found in soils at most locations in the Wyoming Statewide soil database, and elevated concentrations alone are not necessarily cause for alarm. Uranium and thorium, two other elements of environmental concern, are elevated in soils at the site as compared to the Wyoming dataset, but no human or ecological soil screening levels have been established for these elements.

Coupling characteristics of the spun optical fiber with triple stress elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Minning; Shang, Fengtao; Chen, Dandan

2018-06-01

An empirical formula related to the stress field distribution in the optical fiber with triple stress elements is proposed and proved. The possible intercoupling between the fundamental modes and the higher order modes is demonstrated. The transmission property of the spun optical fiber with triple stress elements is analyzed. The experimental data from a sample of the spun optical fiber with triple stress elements confirm the theoretical results very well.

Authentication of two samples of ancient Chinese coins with component element depth analysis by confocal 3D XRF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Peng; Liu, Zhiguo; Lin, Xiaoyan; Liu, Xin; Ye, Lei; Wang, Xingyi; Pan, Kai; Li, Yude

2018-05-01

Two samples of ancient Chinese coins were analyzed with a confocal three-dimensional micro-X-ray fluoroscope. The depth distributions of elemental iron (Fe), calcium (Ca) and copper (Cu) were obtained based on this non-destructive measurement method. One coin, named "Chongning Tongbao", was certified as genuine in accordance with the available archaeological data, whereas another coin, named "Zhenglong Yuanbao", was identified as a reproduction.

Ion microprobe mass analysis of plagioclase from 'non-mare' lunar samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, C., Jr.; Anderson, D. H.; Bradley, J. G.

1974-01-01

The ion microprobe was used to measure the composition and distribution of trace elements in lunar plagioclase, and these analyses are used as criteria in determining the possible origins of some nonmare lunar samples. The Apollo 16 samples with metaclastic texture and high-bulk trace-element contents contain plagioclase clasts with extremely low trace-element contents. These plagioclase inclusions represent unequilibrated relicts of anorthositic, noritic, or troctolitic rocks that have been intermixed as a rock flour into the KREEP-rich matrix of these samples. All of the plagioclase-rich inclusions which were analyzed in the KREEP-rich Apollo 14 breccias were found to be rich in trace elements. This does not seem to be consistent with the interpretation that the Apollo 14 samples represent a pre-Imbrium regolith, because such an ancient regolith should have contained many plagioclase clasts with low trace-element contents more typical of plagioclase from the pre-Imbrium crust. Ion-microprobe analyses for Ba and Sr in large plagioclase phenocrysts in 14310 and 68415 are consistent with the bulk compositions of these rocks and with the known distribution coefficients for these elements. The distribution coefficient for Li (basaltic liquid/plagioclase) was measured to be about 2.

Development of Proxies for Vent Fluid Trace Metal Concentrations and pH through Study of Sulfide Chimney Linings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, G. N.; Tivey, M. K.; Seewald, J.; Rouxel, O. J.; Monteleone, B.

2016-12-01

Analyses of trace elements (Ag, As, Co, Mn, and Zn) hosted in the chalcopyrite linings of `black smoker' chimneys using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) have been combined with data for trace metal concentrations in corresponding vent fluids to investigate fluid-mineral partitioning of trace elements. Goals of this research include development of proxies for fluid chemistry based on mineral trace element content. The use of SIMS allows for the measurement of trace elements below the detection limits of electron microprobe and at the necessary spatial resolution (20 microns) to examine fine-grained and mixed-mineral samples. Results indicate that the chalcopyrite linings of many `black smoker' chimneys are homogeneous with respect to Ag, Mn, Co, and Zn. Minerals picked from samples exhibiting homogeneity with respect to specific elements were dissolved and analyzed by solution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for use as working standards. Results also document a strong correlation between the Ag content of chalcopyrite and the Ag:Cu ratio of the corresponding hydrothermal fluid. This supports systematic partitioning of Ag into chalcopyrite as a substitute for Cu, providing a proxy for fluid Ag concentration. Additionally, the Ag content of chalcopyrite correlates with fluid pH, particularly at pH>3, and thus represents an effective proxy for fluid pH. Application of these proxies to chimney samples provides an opportunity to better identify hydrothermal conditions even when fluids have not been sampled, or not fully analyzed.

Sequential chemical extraction for a phosphogypsum environmental impact evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gennari, R. F.; Garcia, I.; Medina, N. H.; Silveira, M. A. G.

2013-05-01

Phosphogypsum (PG) is gypsum generated during phosphoric acid production. PG is stocked in large stacks or accumulated in lakes; it contains heavy metals and naturally occurring radioactive elements. The metal contamination may affect the functionality, sustainability and biodiversity of ecosystems. In this work, PG samples were analyzed by Plasma Spectrometry. Total metal content and in the extractable fraction of chemical elements were determined. For K, Ni, Zn, Cr, Cd, Ba, Pb and U, the results obtained are lower than those obtained in a Idaho plant are including and also lower than those found in the soil, indicating this PG sample analyzed probably will not cause any additional metal neither natural radiation contamination.

Uncertainty Measurement for Trace Element Analysis of Uranium and Plutonium Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gallimore, David L.

2012-06-13

The measurement uncertainty estimatino associated with trace element analysis of impurities in U and Pu was evaluated using the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty Measurement (GUM). I this evalution the uncertainty sources were identified and standard uncertainties for the components were categorized as either Type A or B. The combined standard uncertainty was calculated and a coverage factor k = 2 was applied to obtain the expanded uncertainty, U. The ICP-AES and ICP-MS methods used were deveoped for the multi-element analysis of U and Pu samples. A typical analytical run consists of standards, process blanks, samples, matrix spiked samples,more » post digestion spiked samples and independent calibration verification standards. The uncertainty estimation was performed on U and Pu samples that have been analyzed previously as part of the U and Pu Sample Exchange Programs. Control chart results and data from the U and Pu metal exchange programs were combined with the GUM into a concentration dependent estimate of the expanded uncertainty. Comparison of trace element uncertainties obtained using this model was compared to those obtained for trace element results as part of the Exchange programs. This process was completed for all trace elements that were determined to be above the detection limit for the U and Pu samples.« less

Rare Earth Element and Trace Element Data Associated with Hydrothermal Spring Reservoir Rock, Idaho

DOE Data Explorer

Quillinan, Scott; Bagdonas, Davin

2017-06-22

These data represent rock samples collected in Idaho that correspond with naturally occurring hydrothermal samples that were collected and analyzed by INL (Idaho Falls, ID). Representative samples of type rocks were selected to best represent the various regions of Idaho in which naturally occurring hydrothermal waters occur. This includes the Snake River Plain (SRP), Basin and Range type structures east of the SRP, and large scale/deep seated orogenic uplift of the Sawtooth Mountains, ID. Analysis includes ICP-OES and ICP-MS methods for Major, Trace, and REE concentrations.

Organic compounds and trace elements in fish tissue and bed sediment from streams in the Yellowstone River basin, Montana and Wyoming, 1998

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peterson, David A.; Boughton, Gregory K.

2000-01-01

A comprehensive water-quality investigation of the Yellowstone River Basin began in 1997, under the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Twenty-four sampling sites were selected for sampling of fish tissue and bed sediment during 1998. Organic compounds analyzed included organochlorine insecticides and their metabolites and total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from fish-tissue and bed-sediment samples, and semivolatile organic compounds from bed-sediment samples. A broad suite of trace elements was analyzed from both fish-tissue and bed-sediment samples, and a special study related to mercury also was conducted. Of the 12 organochlorine insecticides and metabolites detected in the fish-tissue samples, the most compounds per site were detected in samples from integrator sites which represent a mixture of land uses. The presence of DDT, and its metabolites DDD and DDE, in fish collected in the Yellowstone Park area likely reflects long-term residual effects from historical DDT-spraying programs for spruce budworm. Dieldrin, chlordane, and other organic compounds also were detected in the fish-tissue samples. The compound p, p'-DDE was detected at 71 percent of the sampling sites, more than any other compound. The concentrations of total DDT in fish samples were low, however, compared to concentrations from historical data from the study area, other NAWQA studies in the Rocky Mountains, and national baseline concentrations. Only 2 of the 27 organochlorine insecticides and metabolites and total PCBs analyzed in bed sediment were detected. Given that 12 of the compounds were detected in fish-tissue samples, fish appeared to be more sensitive indicators of contamination than bed sediment.Concentrations of some trace elements in fish and bed sediment were higher at sites in mineralized areas than at other sites. Concentrations of selenium in fish tissue from some sites were above background levels. Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, copper, and lead in some of the bed-sediment samples potentially exceeded criteria for the protection of aquatic life.

Downhole Elemental Analysis with LIBS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moreschini, Paolo; Zacny, Kris; Rickman, Doug

2011-01-01

In this paper we discuss a novel instrument, currently under development at Honeybee Robotics with SBIR funding from NASA. The device is designed to characterize elemental composition as a function of depth in non-terrestrial geological formations. The instrument consists of a miniaturized laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) analyzer integrated in a 2" diameter drill string. While the drill provides subsurface access, the LIBS analyzer provides information on the elemental composition of the borehole wall. This instrument has a variety of space applications ranging from exploration of the Moon for which it was originally designed, to Mars, as well as a variety of terrestrial applications. Subsurface analysis is usually performed by sample acquisition through a drill or excavator, followed by sample preparation and subsequent sample presentation to an instrument or suite of instruments. An alternative approach consisting in bringing a miniaturized version of the instrument to the sample has many advantages over the traditional methodology, as it allows faster response, reduced probability of cross-contamination and a simplification in the sampling mechanisms. LIBS functions by focusing a high energy laser on a material inducing a plasma consisting of a small fraction of the material under analysis. Optical emission from the plasma, analyzed by a spectrometer, can be used to determine elemental composition. A triangulation sensor located in the sensor head determines the distance of the sensor from the borehole wall. An actuator modifies the position of the sensor accordingly, in order to compensate for changes due to the profile of the borehole walls. This is necessary because LIBS measurements are negatively affected by changes in the relative position of the focus of the laser with respect to the position of the sample (commonly referred to as the "lens to sample distance"). Profiling the borehole is done by adjusting the position of the sensor with a vertical stage; a second actuator at the top of the downhole probe allows radial scanning of the borehole. Analysis of iron and titanium in lunar simulant with LIBS was performed in air using the method of standard addition. The results for lunar simulant NU-LHT-2M show a value for the concentration of iron ranging between 2.29% and 3.05% depending on the atomic line selected. The accepted value for the sample analyzed is 2.83%, showing the capability for the system in development to provide qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis in real-time.

Geochemical distribution of major and trace elements in agricultural soils of Castilla-La Mancha (central Spain): finding criteria for baselines and delimiting regional anomalies.

PubMed

Bravo, Sandra; García-Ordiales, Efrén; García-Navarro, Francisco Jesús; Amorós, José Ángel; Pérez-de-Los-Reyes, Caridad; Jiménez-Ballesta, Raimundo; Esbrí, José María; García-Noguero, Eva María; Higueras, Pablo

2017-09-07

Castilla-La Mancha (central Spain) is a region characterized by significant agricultural production aimed at high-quality food products such as wine and olive oil. The quality of agricultural products depends directly on the soil quality. Soil geochemistry, including dispersion maps and the recognition of baselines and anomalies of various origins, is the most important tool to assess soil quality. With this objective, 200 soil samples were taken from agricultural areas distributed among the different geological domains present in the region. Analysis of these samples included evaluation of edaphological parameters (reactivity, electrical conductivity, organic matter content) and the geochemistry of major and trace elements by X-ray fluorescence. The dataset obtained was statistically analyzed for major elements and, in the case of trace elements, was normalized with respect to Al and analyzed using the relative cumulative frequency (RCF) distribution method. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of analytical data was characterized and analyzed using the kriging technique, with a correspondence found between major and trace elements in the different geologic domains of the region as well as with the most important mining areas. The results show an influence of the clay fraction present in the soil, which acts as a repository for trace elements. On the basis of the results, of the possible elements related with clay that could be used for normalization, Al was selected as the most suitable, followed by Fe, Mn, and Ti. Reference values estimated using this methodology were lower than those estimated in previous studies.

Quality of water and sediment in streams affected by historical mining, and quality of Mine Tailings, in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin, Big Bend Area of the United States and Mexico, August 2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lambert, Rebecca B.; Kolbe, Christine M.; Belzer, Wayne

2008-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the International Boundary and Water Commission - U.S. and Mexican Sections, the National Park Service, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales in Mexico, the Area de Proteccion de Flora y Fauna Canon de Santa Elena in Mexico, and the Area de Proteccion de Flora y Fauna Maderas del Carmen in Mexico, collected samples of stream water, streambed sediment, and mine tailings during August 2002 for a study to determine whether trace elements from abandoned mines in the area in and around Big Bend National Park have affected the water and sediment quality in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin of the United States and Mexico. Samples were collected from eight sites on the main stem of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, four Rio Grande/Rio Bravo tributary sites downstream from abandoned mines or mine-tailing sites, and 11 mine-tailing sites. Mines in the area were operated to produce fluorite, germanium, iron, lead, mercury, silver, and zinc during the late 1800s through at least the late 1970s. Moderate (relatively neutral) pHs in stream-water samples collected at the 12 Rio Grande/Rio Bravo main-stem and tributary sites indicate that water is well mixed, diluted, and buffered with respect to the solubility of trace elements. The highest sulfate concentrations were in water samples from tributaries draining the Terlingua mining district. Only the sample from the Rough Run Draw site exceeded the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards general-use protection criterion for sulfate. All chloride and dissolved solids concentrations in water samples were less than the general-use protection criteria. Aluminum, copper, mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc were detected in all water samples for which each element was analyzed. Cadmium, chromium, and lead were detected in samples less frequently, and silver was not detected in any of the samples. None of the sample concentrations of aluminum, cadmium, chromium, nickel, selenium, and zinc exceeded the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards criteria for aquatic life-use protection or human health. The only trace elements detected in the water samples at concentrations exceeding the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards criterion for human health (fish consumption use) was lead at one site and mercury at 10 of 12 sites. Relatively high mercury concentrations distributed throughout the area might indicate sources of mercury in addition to abandoned mining areas. Streambed-sediment samples were collected from 12 sites and analyzed for 44 major and trace elements. In general, the trace elements detected in streambed-sediment samples were low in concentration, interpreted as consistent with background concentrations. Concentrations at two sites, however, were elevated compared to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality criteria. Concentrations of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, silver, and zinc in the sample from San Carlos Creek downstream from La Esperanza (San Carlos) Mine exceeded the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality screening levels for sediment. The sample from Rough Run Draw, downstream from the Study Butte Mine, also showed elevated concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead, but these concentrations were much lower than those in the San Carlos Creek sample and did not exceed screening levels. Elevated concentrations of multiple trace elements in streambed-sediment samples from San Carlos Creek and Rough Run Draw indicate that San Carlos Creek, and probably Rough Run Draw, have been adversely affected by mining activities. Fourteen mine-tailing samples from 11 mines were analyzed for 25 major and trace elements. All trace elements except selenium and thallium were detected in one or more samples. The highest lead concentrations were detected in tailings samples from the Boquillas, Puerto Rico, La Esperanza (San Carlos), and Tres Marias Mines, as might be expected because the tailings ar

Major and trace element chemistry of Luna 24 samples from Mare Crisium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blanchard, D. P.; Brannon, J. C.; Aaboe, E.; Budahn, J. R.

1978-01-01

Atomic absorption spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis were employed to analyze six Luna 24 soils for major and trace elements. The analysis revealed well-mixed soils, though size fractions of each of the soils showed quite dissimilar compositions. Thus the regolith apparently has not been extensively reworked. Noritic breccia admixed preferentially to the finest size fractions and differential comminution of one or more other soil components accounted for the observed elemental distributions as a function of grain size. The ferrobasalt composition and one or more components with higher MgO contents have been identified in the samples.

Lichen elemental content bioindicators for air quality in upper Midwest, USA: A model for large-scale monitoring

Treesearch

Susan Will-Wolf; Sarah Jovan; Michael C. Amacher

2017-01-01

Our development of lichen elemental bioindicators for a United States of America (USA) national monitoring program is a useful model for other large-scale programs. Concentrations of 20 elements were measured, validated, and analyzed for 203 samples of five common lichen species. Collections were made by trained non-specialists near 75 permanent plots and an expert...

Fluid rare earth element anlayses from wells RN-12 and RN-19, Reykjanes, Iceland

DOE Data Explorer

Andrew Fowler

2015-07-24

Results for fluid rare earth elment analyses from Reykjanes wells RN-12 and RN-19. The data have not been corrected for flashing. Samples preconcetrated using chelating resin with IDA functional group (InertSep ME-1). Analyzed using and Element magnetic sctor ICP-MS.

Water-chemistry data collected in and near Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaii, 2012–2014

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tillman, Fred D.; Oki, Delwyn S.; Johnson, Adam G.

2014-01-01

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (KAHO) on western Hawaiʻi was established in 1978 to preserve, interpret, and perpetuate traditional Native Hawaiian culture and activities, including the preservation of a variety of culturally and ecologically significant water resources that are vital to this mission. KAHO water bodies provide habitat for 1 threatened, 11 endangered, and 3 candidate threatened or endangered species. These habitats are sustained by, and in the case of ʻAimakapā Fishpond and the anchialine pools, entirely dependent on, groundwater from the Keauhou aquifer system. Development of inland impounded groundwater in the Keauhou aquifer system may affect the coastal freshwater-lens system on which KAHO depends, if the inland impounded-groundwater and coastal freshwater-lens systems are hydrologically connected. This report documents water-chemistry results from a U.S. Geological Survey study that collected and analyzed water samples from 2012 to 2014 from 25 sites in and near KAHO to investigate potential geochemical indicators in water that might indicate the presence or absence of a hydrologic connection between the inland impounded-groundwater and coastal freshwater-lens systems in the area. Samples were collected under high-tide and low-tide conditions for KAHO sites, and in dry-season and wet-season conditions for all sites. Samples were collected from two ocean sites, two fishponds, three anchialine pools, and three monitoring wells within KAHO. Two additional nearshore wells were sampled on property adjacent to and north of KAHO. Additional samples from the freshwater-lens system were collected from six inland wells located upslope from KAHO, including three production wells. Seven production wells in the inland impounded-groundwater system also were sampled. Water samples were analyzed for major ions, selected trace elements, rare-earth elements, strontium-isotope ratio, and stable isotopes of water. Precipitation samples from five sites were collected roughly along a transect upslope from KAHO. All precipitation samples were analyzed for stable isotopes of water and some precipitation samples were analyzed for rare-earth and selected trace elements.

Geochemical maps of the Cornplanter Roadless Area, Warren County, Pennsylvania

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lesure, Frank G.; Day, Gordon W.

1984-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) made a reconnaissance geochemical survey of the Cornplanter Roadless Area (fig. 1) to test for indistinct or unexposed mineral deposits that might be recognized by their geochemical halos or patterns formed by the distribution of trace elements. Lesure, assisted by Andrew E. Grosz, collected 22 stream-sediment, 63 soil, and 23 rock samples from within and dear the study area during October 1980. All samples were analyzed for 31 elements using semi-quantitative spectrographic methods by Day in USGS laboratories, Denver, Colo. (table 1). In addition, the samples were also analyzed for zinc by means of an atomic absorption method by B.F. Arbogast and W.C. Martin, USGS laboratories, Denver Colo. J.T. Hanley and P.G. Schruben formatted the analytical data by computer methods for table 1. 

Determination of free amino acids and 18 elements in freeze-dried strawberry and blueberry fruit using an Amino Acid Analyzer and ICP-MS with micro-wave digestion.

PubMed

Zhang, Hua; Wang, Zhen-Yu; Yang, Xin; Zhao, Hai-Tian; Zhang, Ying-Chun; Dong, Ai-Jun; Jing, Jing; Wang, Jing

2014-03-15

The objective of this study was to investigate the level of 18 trace elements of two freeze-dried samples from the Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and the Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa). The total free amino acid composition in the blueberry and strawberry was determined by an Amino Acid Analyzer. Eleven free amino acids were found in both berries. The trace elements in each dried fruit sample were determined by ICP-MS with microwave digestion. The linearity range of the standard curves was 0-1250.0 μg L(-1) (Mg, P, K, Ca),while in all cases, except for B, Na, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, Pb, Ge and As, which was 125.0 μg mL(-1), all related coefficients were above 0.9999; recovery was in the range of 79.0-106.8%. Minor concentrations of nutritional elements were found in each freeze-dried berry. In sum, the toxic trace element analysis found the content of toxic trace elements in each freeze-dried berry sample was safe for human consumption and that the overall quality of the blueberry surpassed that of the strawberry. The results certify that the two freeze-dried berries have potential for human consumption in value-added products and have a certain theoretical and practical significance. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

INAA Application for Trace Element Determination in Biological Reference Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atmodjo, D. P. D.; Kurniawati, S.; Lestiani, D. D.; Adventini, N.

2017-06-01

Trace element determination in biological samples is often used in the study of health and toxicology. Determination change to its essentiality and toxicity of trace element require an accurate determination method, which implies that a good Quality Control (QC) procedure should be performed. In this study, QC for trace element determination in biological samples was applied by analyzing the Standard Reference Material (SRM) Bovine muscle 8414 NIST using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Three selected trace element such as Fe, Zn, and Se were determined. Accuracy of the elements showed as %recovery and precision as %coefficient of variance (%CV). The result showed that %recovery of Fe, Zn, and Se were in the range between 99.4-107%, 92.7-103%, and 91.9-112%, respectively, whereas %CV were 2.92, 3.70, and 5.37%, respectively. These results showed that INAA method is precise and accurate for trace element determination in biological matrices.

Sediment-quality assessment of Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake and the upstream reach of the Columbia River, Washington, 1992

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bortleson, Gilbert Carl; Cox, S.E.; Munn, M.D.; Schumaker, R.J.; Block, E.K.

2001-01-01

Elevated concentrations of trace elements were found in bed sediment of Lake Roosevelt and the Columbia River, its principal source of inflow. Trace-element concentrations in whole water samples did not exceed criteria for freshwater organisms. Bed sediments of Lake Roosevelt were analyzed for organic compounds associated with wood-pulp waste. Dioxins and furans were found in suspended sediment and water of the Columbia River. Abundance and diversity of benthic invertebrate communities were analyzed.

Ultrasonic nondestructive testing of composite materials using disturbed coincidence conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bause, F.; Olfert, S.; Schröder, A.; Rautenberg, J.; Henning, B.; Moritzer, E.

2012-05-01

In this contribution we present a new method detecting changes in the composite material's acoustic behavior by analyzing disturbed coincidence conditions on plate-like test samples. The coincidence condition for an undamaged GFRP test sample has been experimentally identified using Schlieren measurements. Disturbances of this condition follow from a disturbed acoustic behavior of the test sample which is an indicator for local damages in the region inspected. An experimental probe has been realized consisting of two piezoceramic elements adhered to the nonparallel sides of an isosceles trapezoidal body made of silicone. The base angles of the trapezoidal body have been chosen such that the incident wave meets pre-measured condition of coincidence. The receiving element receives the geometric reflection of the acoustic wave scattered at the test sample's surface which corresponds to the non-coupled part of the incident wave as send by the sending element. Analyzing the transfer function or impulse response of the electro-acoustic system (transmitter, scattering at test sample, receiver), it is possible to detect local disturbances with respect to Cramer's coincidence rule. Thus, it is possible to realize a very simple probe for local ultrasonic nondestructive testing of composite materials (as well as non-composite material) which can be integrated in a small practical device and is good for small size inspection areas.

Review of Trace-Element Field-Blank Data Collected for the California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program, May 2004-January 2008

USGS Publications Warehouse

Olsen, Lisa D.; Fram, Miranda S.; Belitz, Kenneth

2010-01-01

Trace-element quality-control samples (for example, source-solution blanks, field blanks, and field replicates) were collected as part of a statewide investigation of groundwater quality in California, known as the Priority Basins Project of the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program. The GAMA Priority Basins Project is being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to assess and monitor the quality of groundwater resources used for drinking-water supply and to improve public knowledge of groundwater quality in California. Trace-element field blanks were collected to evaluate potential bias in the corresponding environmental data. Bias in the environmental data could result from contamination in the field during sample collection, from the groundwater coming into contact with contaminants on equipment surfaces or from other sources, or from processing, shipping, or analyzing the samples. Bias affects the interpretation of environmental data, particularly if any constituents are present solely as a result of extrinsic contamination that would have otherwise been absent from the groundwater that was sampled. Field blanks were collected, analyzed, and reviewed to identify and quantify extrinsic contamination bias. Data derived from source-solution blanks and laboratory quality-control samples also were considered in evaluating potential contamination bias. Eighty-six field-blank samples collected from May 2004 to January 2008 were analyzed for the concentrations of 25 trace elements. Results from these field blanks were used to interpret the data for the 816 samples of untreated groundwater collected over the same period. Constituents analyzed were aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), strontium (Sr), thallium (Tl), tungsten (W), uranium (U), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn). The detection frequency and the 90th percentile concentration at greater than 90 percent confidence were determined from the field-blank data for each trace element, and these results were compared to each constituent's long-term method detection level (LT-MDL) to determine whether a study reporting level (SRL) was necessary to ensure that no more than 10 percent of the detections in groundwater samples could be attributed solely to contamination bias. Only two of the trace elements analyzed, Li and Se, had zero detections in the 86 field blanks. Ten other trace elements (Sb, As, Be, B, Cd, Co, Mo, Ag, Tl, and U) were detected in fewer than 5 percent of the field blanks. The field-blank results for these constituents did not necessitate establishing SRLs. Of the 13 constituents that were detected in more than 5 percent of the field blanks, six (Al, Ba, Cr, Mn, Hg, and V) had field-blank results that indicated a need for SRLs that were at or below the highest laboratory reporting levels (LRL) used during the sampling period; these SRLs were needed for concentrations between the LT-MDLs and LRLs. The other seven constituents with detection frequencies above 5 percent (Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Sr, W, and Zn) had field-blank results that necessitated SRLs greater than the highest LRLs used during the study period. SRLs for these seven constituents, each set at the 90th percentile of their concentrations in the field blanks, were at least an order of magnitude below the regulatory thresholds established for drinking water for health or aesthetic purposes; therefore, reporting values below the SRLs as less than or equal to (=) the measured value would not prevent the identification of values greater than the drinking-water thresholds. The SRLs and drinking-water thresholds, respectively, for these 7 trace elements are Cu (1.7 ?g/L and 1,300

Multi-elemental analysis of aqueous geochemical samples by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wolf, Ruth E.; Adams, Monique

2015-01-01

Typically, quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is used to determine as many as 57 major, minor, and trace elements in aqueous geochemical samples, including natural surface water and groundwater, acid mine drainage water, and extracts or leachates from geological samples. The sample solution is aspirated into the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) which is an electrodeless discharge of ionized argon gas at a temperature of approximately 6,000 degrees Celsius. The elements in the sample solution are subsequently volatilized, atomized, and ionized by the ICP. The ions generated are then focused and introduced into a quadrupole mass filter which only allows one mass to reach the detector at a given moment in time. As the settings of the mass analyzer change, subsequent masses are allowed to impact the detector. Although the typical quadrupole ICP-MS system is a sequential scanning instrument (determining each mass separately), the scan speed of modern instruments is on the order of several thousand masses per second. Consequently, typical total sample analysis times of 2–3 minutes are readily achievable for up to 57 elements.

Evaluating Trends in Historical PM2.5 Element Concentrations by Reanalyzing a 15-Year Sample Archive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyslop, N. P.; White, W. H.; Trzepla, K.

2014-12-01

The IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environments) network monitors aerosol concentrations at 170 remote sites throughout the United States. Twenty-four-hour filter samples of particulate matter are collected every third day and analyzed for chemical composition. About 30 of the sites have operated continuously since 1988, and the sustained data record (http://views.cira.colostate.edu/web/) offers a unique window on regional aerosol trends. All elemental analyses have been performed by Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at the University of California in Davis, and sample filters collected since 1995 are archived on campus. The suite of reported elements has remained constant, but the analytical methods employed for their determination have evolved. For example, the elements Na - Mn were determined by PIXE until November 2001, then by XRF analysis in a He-flushed atmosphere through 2004, and by XRF analysis in vacuum since January 2005. In addition to these fundamental changes, incompletely-documented operational factors such as detector performance and calibration details have introduced variations in the measurements. Because the past analytical methods were non-destructive, the archived filters can be re-analyzed with the current analytical systems and protocols. The 15-year sample archives from Great Smoky Mountains (GRSM), Mount Rainier (MORA), and Point Reyes National Parks (PORE) were selected for reanalysis. The agreement between the new analyses and original determinations varies with element and analytical era. The graph below compares the trend estimates for all the elements measured by IMPROVE based on the original and repeat analyses; the elements identified in color are measured above the detection limit more than 90% of the time. The trend estimates are sensitive to the treatment of non-detect data. The original and reanalysis trends are indistinguishable (have overlapping confidence intervals) for most of the well-detected elements.

Distribution and solubility limits of trace elements in hydrothermal black smoker sulfides: An in-situ LA-ICP-MS study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wohlgemuth-Ueberwasser, Cora C.; Viljoen, Fanus; Petersen, Sven; Vorster, Clarisa

2015-06-01

The key for understanding the trace metal inventory of currently explored VHMS deposits lies in the understanding of trace element distribution during the formation of these deposits on the seafloor. Recrystallization processes already occurring at the seafloor might liberate trace elements to later hydrothermal alteration and removement. To investigate the distribution and redistribution of trace elements we analyzed sulfide minerals from 27 black smoker samples derived from three different seafloor hydrothermal fields: the ultramafic-hosted Logatchev hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the basaltic-hosted Turtle Pits field on the mid-atlantic ridge, and the felsic-hosted PACMANUS field in the Manus basin (Papua New Guinea). The sulfide samples were analyzed by mineral liberation analyser for the modal abundances of sulfide minerals, by electron microprobe for major elements and by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for As, Sb, Se, Te, and Au. The samples consist predominantly of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, galena and minor isocubanite as well as inclusions of tetrahedrite-tennantite. Laser ablation spectra were used to evaluate the solubility limits of trace elements in different sulfide minerals at different textures. The solubility of As, Sb, and Au in pyrite decreases with increasing degree of recrystallization. When solubility limits are reached these elements occur as inclusions in the different sulfide phases or they are expelled from the mineral phase. Most ancient VHMS deposits represent felsic or bimodal felsic compositions. Samples from the felsic-hosted PACMANUS hydrothermal field at the Pual ridge (Papua New Guinea) show high concentrations of Pb, As, Sb, Bi, Hg, and Te, which is likely the result of an additional trace element contribution derived from magmatic volatiles. Co-precipitating pyrite and chalcopyrite are characterized by equal contents of Te, while chalcopyrite that replaced pyrite (presumably during black smoker growth) is enriched in Te relative to pyrite. These higher Te concentrations may be related to higher fluid temperature.

Gunshot residue (GSR) analysis by single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS).

PubMed

Heringer, Rodrigo D; Ranville, James F

2018-05-25

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) was investigated as a screening-level technique for the analysis and characterization of inorganic gunshot residue (IGSR) nanoparticles. spICP-MS works with undigested samples whereby nanoparticles (NPs) in a suspension are individually atomized and ionized as they reach the plasma, each resulting in a pulse of analyte ions that can be quantified. The method is rapid, and signals from hundreds of NPs can be collected in 1-2min per sample. The technique is quantitative for NP mass and number concentration when only one element (single element mode) is measured using a quadrupole MS. Likewise, a qualitative elemental fingerprint can be obtained for individual NPs when peak-hopping between two elements (dual element mode). For this proof of concept study, each shooter's hand was sampled with ultrapure water or swab to obtain NPs suspensions. Measurements of antimony, barium, and lead were performed using both analysis modes. With no sample preparation and fully automated sample introduction, it is possible to analyze more than 100 samples in a day. Results show that this technique opens a new perspective for future research on GSR sample identification and characterization and can complement SEM/EDX analysis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analytical Results for 42 Fluvial Tailings Cores and 7 Stream Sediment Samples from High Ore Creek, Northern Jefferson County, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fey, David L.; Church, Stan E.

1998-01-01

Metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River basin study area in northern Jefferson County, Montana have been implicated in their detrimental effects on water quality with regard to acid-generation and toxic-metal solubility. Sediments, fluvial tailings and water from High Ore Creek have been identified as significant contributors to water quality degradation of the Boulder River below Basin, Montana. A study of 42 fluvial tailings cores and 7 stream sediments from High Ore Creek was undertaken to determine the concentrations of environmentally sensitive elements (i.e. Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) present in these materials, and the mineral phases containing those elements. Two sites of fluvial deposition of mine-waste contaminated sediment on upper High Ore Creek were sampled using a one-inch soil probe. Forty-two core samples were taken producing 247 subsamples. The samples were analyzed by ICP-AES (inductively coupled-plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) using a total mixed-acid digestion. Results of the core analyses show that the elements described above are present at very high concentrations (to 22,000 ppm As, to 460 ppm Ag, to 900 ppm Cd, 4,300 ppm Cu, 46,000ppm Pb, and 50,000 ppm Zn). Seven stream-sediment samples were also analyzed by ICP-AES for total element content and for leachable element content. Results show that the sediment of High Ore Creek has elevated levels of ore-related metals throughout its length, down to the confluence with the Boulder River, and that the metals are, to a significant degree, contained in the leachable phase, namely the hydrous amorphous iron- and manganese-hydroxide coatings on detrital sediment particles.

Water-quality assessment of part of the upper Mississippi River basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin: Design and implementation of water-quality studies, 1995-98

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stark, James R.; Fallon, J.D.; Fong, A.L.; Goldstein, R.M.; Hanson, P.E.; Kroening, S.E.; Lee, K.E.

1999-01-01

This report describes the design, site-selection, and implementation of the study. Methods used to collect, process, and analyze samples; characterize sites; and assess habitat are described. A comprehensive list of sample sites is provided. Sample analyses for water-quality studies included chlorophyll a, major inorganic constituents, nutrients, trace elements, tritium, radon, environmental isotopes, organic carbon, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and other synthetic and naturallyoccurring organic compounds. Aquatic-biological samples included fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and algal enumeration and identification, as well as synthetic-organic compounds and trace elements in fish tissue.

Quantification of multiple elements in dried blood spot samples.

PubMed

Pedersen, Lise; Andersen-Ranberg, Karen; Hollergaard, Mads; Nybo, Mads

2017-08-01

Dried blood spots (DBS) is a unique matrix that offers advantages compared to conventional blood collection making it increasingly popular in large population studies. We here describe development and validation of a method to determine multiple elements in DBS. Elements were extracted from punches and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The method was evaluated with quality controls with defined element concentration and blood spiked with elements to assess accuracy and imprecision. DBS element concentrations were compared with concentrations in venous blood. Samples with different hematocrit were spotted onto filter paper to assess hematocrit effect. The established method was precise and accurate for measurement of most elements in DBS. There was a significant but relatively weak correlation between measurement of the elements Mg, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, As and Se in DBS and venous whole blood. Hematocrit influenced the DBS element measurement, especially for K, Fe and Zn. Trace elements can be measured with high accuracy and low imprecision in DBS, but contribution of signal from the filter paper influences measurement of some elements present at low concentrations. Simultaneous measurement of K and Fe in DBS extracts may be used to estimate sample hematocrit. Copyright © 2017 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Laboratory Instruments Available to Support Space Station Researchers at Marshall Space Flight Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, Binayak; Gorti, Sridhar

2013-01-01

A number of research instruments are available at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to support ISS researchers and their investigations. These modern analytical tools yield valuable and sometimes new informative resulting from sample characterization. Instruments include modern scanning electron microscopes equipped with field emission guns providing analytical capabilities that include angstron-level image resolution of dry, wet and biological samples. These microscopes are also equipped with silicon drift X-ray detectors (SDD) for fast yet precise analytical mapping of phases, as well as electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) units to map grain orientations in crystalline alloys. Sample chambers admit large samples, provide variable pressures for wet samples, and quantitative analysis software to determine phase relations. Advances in solid-state electronics have also facilitated improvements for surface chemical analysis that are successfully employed to analyze metallic materials and alloys, ceramics, slags, and organic polymers. Another analytical capability at MSFC is a mganetic sector Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) that quantitatively determines and maps light elements such as hydrogen, lithium, and boron along with their isotopes, identifies and quantifies very low level impurities even at parts per billion (ppb) levels. Still other methods available at MSFC include X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) that can determine oxidation states of elements as well as identify polymers and measure film thicknesses on coated materials, Scanning Auger electron spectroscopy (SAM) which combines surface sensitivity, spatial lateral resolution (approximately 20 nm), and depth profiling capabilities to describe elemental compositions in near surface regions and even the chemical state of analyzed atoms. Conventional Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) for observing internal microstructures at very high magnifications and the Electron Probe Micro-analyzer (EPMA) for very precise microanalysis are available as needed by the researcher. Space Station researchers are invited to work with MSFC in analyzing their samples using these techniques.

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and major and trace elements in simulated rainfall runoff from parking lots, Austin, Texas, 2003

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mahler, Barbara J.; Van Metre, Peter C.; Wilson, Jennifer T.

2004-01-01

Samples of creek bed sediment collected near seal-coated parking lots in Austin, Texas, by the City of Austin during 2001–02 had unusually elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To investigate the possibility that PAHs from seal-coated parking lots might be transported to urban creeks, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Austin, sampled runoff and scrapings from four test plots and 13 urban parking lots. The surfaces sampled comprise coal-tar-emulsion-sealed, asphalt-emulsion-sealed, unsealed asphalt, and unsealed concrete. Particulates and filtered water in runoff and surface scrapings were analyzed for PAHs. In addition, particulates in runoff were analyzed for major and trace elements. Samples of all three media from coal-tar-sealed parking lots had concentrations of PAHs higher than those from any other types of surface. The mean total PAH concentration in particulates in runoff from parking lots in use were 3,500,000, 620,000, and 54,000 micrograms per kilogram from coal-tar-sealed, asphalt-sealed, and unsealed (asphalt and concrete combined) lots, respectively. The probable effect concentration sediment quality guideline is 22,800 micrograms per kilogram. The mean total PAH (sum of detected PAHs) concentration in filtered water from parking lots in use was 8.6 micrograms per liter for coal-tar-sealed lots; the one sample analyzed from an asphalt-sealed lot had a concentration of 5.1 micrograms per liter and the one sample analyzed from an unsealed asphalt lot was 0.24 microgram per liter. The mean total PAH concentration in scrapings was 23,000,000, 820,000, and 14,000 micrograms per kilogram from coal-tar-sealed, asphalt-sealed, and unsealed asphalt lots, respectively. Concentrations of lead and zinc in particulates in runoff frequently exceeded the probable effect concentrations, but trace element concentrations showed no consistent variation with parking lot surface type.

Trace Elements in Bed Sediments and Biota from Streams in the Santee River Basin and Coastal Drainages, North and South Carolina, 1995-97

Treesearch

Thomas A. Abrahamsen

1999-01-01

Bed-sediment and tissue samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of trace elements from 25 sites in the Santee River Basin and coastal drainages study area during 1995-97 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program, Sediment trace-element priority-pollutant concentrations were compared among streams draining water-...

Water analysis via portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pearson, Delaina; Chakraborty, Somsubhra; Duda, Bogdan; Li, Bin; Weindorf, David C.; Deb, Shovik; Brevik, Eric; Ray, D. P.

2017-01-01

Rapid, in-situ elemental water analysis would be an invaluable tool in studying polluted and/or salt-impacted waters. Analysis of water salinity has commonly used electrical conductance (EC); however, the identity of the elements responsible for the salinity are not revealed using EC. Several studies have established the viability of using portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry for elemental data analysis of soil, sediment, and other matrices. However, the accuracy of PXRF is known to be affected while scanning moisture-laden soil samples. This study used PXRF elemental data in water samples to predict water EC. A total of 256 water samples, from 10 different countries were collected and analyzed via PXRF, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and a digital salinity bridge. The PXRF detected some elements more effectively than others, but overall results indicated that PXRF can successfully predict water EC via quantifying Cl in water samples (validation R2 and RMSE of 0.77 and 0.95 log μS cm-1, respectively). The findings of this study elucidated the potential of PXRF for future analysis of pollutant and/or metal contaminated waters.

Method and apparatus for analyzing the internal chemistry and compositional variations of materials and devices

DOEpatents

Kazmerski, Lawrence L.

1989-01-01

A method and apparatus is disclosed for obtaining and mapping chemical compositional data for solid devices. It includes a SIMS mass analyzer or similar system capable of being rastered over a surface of the solid to sample the material at a pattern of selected points, as the surface is being eroded away by sputtering or a similar process. The data for each point sampled in a volume of the solid is digitally processed and indexed by element or molecule type, exact spacial location within the volume, and the concentration levels of the detected element or molecule types. This data can then be recalled and displayed for any desired planar view in the volume.

Method and apparatus for analyzing the internal chemistry and compositional variations of materials and devices

DOEpatents

Kazmerski, L.L.

1985-04-30

A method and apparatus is disclosed for obtaining and mapping chemical compositional data for solid devices. It includes a SIMS mass analyzer or similar system capable of being rastered over a surface of the solid to sample the material at a pattern of selected points, as the surface is being eroded away by sputtering or a similar process. The data for each point sampled in a volume of the solid is digitally processed and indexed by element or molecule type, exact spacial location within the volume, and the concentration levels of the detected element or molecule types. This data can then be recalled and displayed for any desired planar view in the volume.

Standard reference water samples for rare earth element determinations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Verplanck, P.L.; Antweiler, Ronald C.; Nordstrom, D. Kirk; Taylor, Howard E.

2001-01-01

Standard reference water samples (SRWS) were collected from two mine sites, one near Ophir, CO, USA and the other near Redding, CA, USA. The samples were filtered, preserved, and analyzed for rare earth element (REE) concentrations (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These two samples were acid mine waters with elevated concentrations of REEs (0.45-161 ??g/1). Seventeen international laboratories participated in a 'round-robin' chemical analysis program, which made it possible to evaluate the data by robust statistical procedures that are insensitive to outliers. The resulting most probable values are reported. Ten to 15 of the participants also reported values for Ba, Y, and Sc. Field parameters, major ion, and other trace element concentrations, not subject to statistical evaluation, are provided.

Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy-Dispersive X-Ray (SEM/EDX): A Rapid Diagnostic Tool to Aid the Identification of Burnt Bone and Contested Cremains.

PubMed

Ellingham, Sarah T D; Thompson, Tim J U; Islam, Meez

2018-03-01

This study investigates the use of Scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) as a diagnostic tool for the determination of the osseous origin of samples subjected to different temperatures. Sheep (Ovis aries) ribs of two experimental groups (fleshed and defleshed) were burned at temperatures of between 100°C and 1100°C in 100°C increments and subsequently analyzed with the SEM-EDX to determine the atomic percentage of present elements. Three-factor ANOVA analysis showed that neither the exposure temperature, nor whether the burning occurred with or without soft tissue present had any significant influence on the bone's overall elemental makeup (p > 0.05). The Ca/P ratio remained in the osseous typical range of between 1.6 and 2.58 in all analyzed samples. This demonstrates that even faced with high temperatures, the overall gross elemental content and atomic percentage of elements in bone remain stable, creating a unique "fingerprint" for osseous material, even after exposure to extreme conditions. © 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The Trace Element Composition of Plankton and Dust in the Qatari EEZ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turner, J.; Murray, J. W.; Yigiterhan, O.; Al-Ansari, I. S.; Al-Ansi, M.; Abdel-Moati, M.; Paul, B.; Nelson, A.

2015-12-01

We present data on elemental concentrations of plankton net tow samples from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader study of biogenic and lithogenic influences on particulate trace metal concentrations in the surface ocean. There are relatively few analyses of planktonic trace metals and their associated role in the biogeochemical system. We had the opportunity to investigate the composition of plankton in a region heavily affected by dust, a significant factor for phytoplankton growth. Our samples were collected from 2012 to 2015 using trace metal clean net tows with mesh sizes of 50 and 200 microns for measurements of phytoplankton and zooplankton, respectively. Samples were totally digested and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The biogenic portion was determined by subtracting the lithogenic portion from the total concentration. The lithogenic fraction was defined as the concentration of aluminum in the sample multiplied by a [Me]/Al ratio. Using average Qatari dust for these ratios generated a significant amount of overcorrection, so ratios were established using average upper continental crust (UCC). This method still caused some overcorrection for the lithogenic portion resulting in negative excess values for barium, molybdenum, and lead. These same elements showed the least consistency between measurements. For the other elements, a relative stoichiometry for plankton was determined as Fe > Cu ≈ Zn > As ≈ Cr ≈ Mn ≈ Ni ≈ V > Cd ≈ Co. We also found a significant near shore enrichment for 9 out of 13 elements analyzed, indicative of a possible influence of coastal processes.

Microwave plasma monitoring system for the elemental composition analysis of high temperature process streams

DOEpatents

Woskov, Paul P.; Cohn, Daniel R.; Titus, Charles H.; Surma, Jeffrey E.

1997-01-01

Microwave-induced plasma for continuous, real time trace element monitoring under harsh and variable conditions. The sensor includes a source of high power microwave energy and a shorted waveguide made of a microwave conductive, high temperature capability refractory material communicating with the source of the microwave energy to generate a plasma. The high power waveguide is constructed to be robust in a hot, hostile environment. It includes an aperture for the passage of gases to be analyzed and a spectrometer is connected to receive light from the plasma. Provision is made for real time in situ calibration. The spectrometer disperses the light, which is then analyzed by a computer. The sensor is capable of making continuous, real time quantitative measurements of desired elements, such as the heavy metals lead and mercury. The invention may be incorporated into a high temperature process device and implemented in situ for example, such as with a DC graphite electrode plasma arc furnace. The invention further provides a system for the elemental analysis of process streams by removing particulate and/or droplet samples therefrom and entraining such samples in the gas flow which passes through the plasma flame. Introduction of and entraining samples in the gas flow may be facilitated by a suction pump, regulating gas flow, gravity or combinations thereof.

Major- and Trace-Element Concentrations in Soils from Two Geochemical Surveys (1972 and 2005) of the Denver, Colorado, Metropolitan Area

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kilburn, James E.; Smith, David B.; Closs, L. Graham; Smith, Steven M.

2007-01-01

Introduction This report contains major- and trace-element concentration data for soil samples collected in 1972 and 2005 from the Denver, Colorado, metropolitan area. A total of 405 sites were sampled in the 1972 study from an area approximately bounded by the suburbs of Golden, Thornton, Aurora, and Littleton to the west, north, east, and south, respectively. This data set included 34 duplicate samples collected in the immediate vicinity of the primary sample. In 2005, a total of 464 sites together with 34 duplicates were sampled from the same approximate localities sampled in 1972 as well as additional sites in east Aurora and the area surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Sample density for both surveys was on the order of 1 site per square mile. At each site, sample material was collected from a depth of 0-5 inches. Each sample collected was analyzed for near-total major- and trace-element composition by the following methods: (1) inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, indium, iron, lanthanum, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, phosphorus, potassium, rubidium, scandium, silver, sodium, strontium, sulfur, tellurium, thallium, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, yttrium, and zinc; and (2) hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry for selenium. The samples collected in 2005 were also analyzed by a cold vapor-atomic absorption method for mercury. This report makes available the analytical results of these studies.

Lithogeochemistry of mineralized and altered rock samples from the northern Talkeetna Mountains, south-central Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Light, Thomas D.; Schmidt, Jeanine M.

2011-01-01

Mineralized and altered rock samples collected from the northern Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska, were analyzed by two different inductively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) methods for as many as 44 elements; by fire assay and either direct-coupled plasma (DCP) or atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for gold (Au); by cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAA) for mercury (Hg); and by irradiated neutron activation analysis (INAA) for tungsten (W). The analytical results showed that some samples contain high values of multiple elements and may be potential indicators of hydrothermal mineralization in the area.

Problems associated with using filtration to define dissolved trace element concentrations in natural water samples

USGS Publications Warehouse

Horowitz, A.J.; Lum, K.R.; Garbarino, J.R.; Hall, G.E.M.; Lemieux, C.; Demas, C.R.

1996-01-01

Field and laboratory experiments indicate that a number of factors associated with filtration other than just pore size (e.g., diameter, manufacturer, volume of sample processed, amount of suspended sediment in the sample) can produce significant variations in the 'dissolved' concentrations of such elements as Fe, Al, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, and Ni. The bulk of these variations result from the inclusion/exclusion of colloidally associated trace elements in the filtrate, although dilution and sorption/desorption from filters also may be factors. Thus, dissolved trace element concentrations quantitated by analyzing filtrates generated by processing whole water through similar pore-sized filters may not be equal or comparable. As such, simple filtration of unspecified volumes of natural water through unspecified 0.45-??m membrane filters may no longer represent an acceptable operational definition for a number of dissolved chemical constituents.

Investigation of therapeutic potentials of some selected medicinal plants using neutron activation analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abubakar, Sani; Usman, Ahmed Rufa'i.; Isa, Nasiru Fage; Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin; Abubakar, Nuraddeen

2015-04-01

Series of attempts were made to investigate concentrations of trace elements and their therapeutic properties in various medicinal plants. In this study, samples of some commonly used plants were collected from Bauchi State, Nigeria. They includes leaves of azadirachta indica (neem), Moringa Oleifera (moringa), jatropha curcas (purgin Nut), guiera senegalensis (custard apple) and anogeissus leiocarpus (African birch). These samples were analyzed for their trace elements contents with both short and long irradiation protocols of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) at Nigerian Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The level of trace elements found varies from one sample to another, with some reported at hundreds of mg/Kg dry weight. The results have been compared with the available literature data. The presence of these trace elements indicates promising potentials of these plants for relief of certain ailments.

THE MEASUREMENT OF RADIATION EXPOSURE OF ASTRONAUTS BY RADIOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES October 6,1969 Through January 4, 1970

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brodzinski, R. L.; Rancitelli, L. A.; Haller, W. A.

1970-01-15

The urine and feces specimens from the Apollo 11 mission were analyzed for their radionuclide content. Estimates of cosmic radiation dose received by the astronauts were difficult to determine due to decay of the short-lived radionuclides during quarantine. The concentrations of {sup 7}Be, {sup 22}Na, {sup 40}K, {sup 59}Fe, {sup 60}Co, and {sup 137}Cs were determined. No {sup 147}Pm was observed in any of the samples. The concentrations of 16 major, minor, and trace elements were determined in fecal samples from Apollos 8 and 10. Large discrepancies between the excretion rates and normal dietary intakes were noted for cobalt, iron,more » tin , and potassium. An interpretation of the hazards these deviations may produce requires the determination of the elemental concentrations of the foodstuffs used during these missions. The fecal samples from the Apollo 11 mission were analyzed for glass fiber content. One anomalous sample was observed having a glass fiber content twofold greater than any previously measured specimen. A piece of the outer thermal coating of the Apollo 12 spacecraft was analyzed for cosmic-ray-induced radioactivity. Beryllium-7 was observed .« less

High-throughput simultaneous determination of plasma water deuterium and 18-oxygen enrichment using a high-temperature conversion elemental analyzer with isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Richelle, M; Darimont, C; Piguet-Welsch, C; Fay, L B

2004-01-01

This paper presents a high-throughput method for the simultaneous determination of deuterium and oxygen-18 (18O) enrichment of water samples isolated from blood. This analytical method enables rapid and simple determination of these enrichments of microgram quantities of water. Water is converted into hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases by the use of a high-temperature conversion elemental analyzer (TC-EA), that are then transferred on-line into the isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Accuracy determined with the standard light Antartic precipitation (SLAP) and Greenland ice sheet precipitation (GISP) is reliable for deuterium and 18O enrichments. The range of linearity is from 0 up to 0.09 atom percent excess (APE, i.e. -78 up to 5725 delta per mil (dpm)) for deuterium enrichment and from 0 up to 0.17 APE (-11 up to 890 dpm) for 18O enrichment. Memory effects do exist but can be avoided by analyzing the biological samples in quintuplet. This method allows the determination of 1440 samples per week, i.e. 288 biological samples per week. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Development of an X-ray surface analyzer for planetary exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, B. C.

1972-01-01

An ultraminiature X-ray fluorescence spectrometer was developed which can obtain data on element composition not provided by present spacecraft instrumentation. The apparatus employs two radioisotope sources (Fe-55 and Cd-109) which irradiate adjacent areas on a soil sample. Fluorescent X-rays emitted by the sample are detected by four thin-window proportional counters. Using pulse-height discrimination, the energy spectra are determined. Virtually all elements above sodium in the periodic table are detected if present at sufficient levels. Minimum detection limits range from 30 ppm to several percent, depending upon the element and the matrix. For most elements, they are below 0.5 percent. Accuracies likewise depend upon the matrix, but are generally better than plus or minus 0.5 percent for all elements of atomic number greater than 14. Elements below sodium are also detected, but as a single group.

Multielement extraction system for the determination of 18 trace elements in geochemical samples

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clark, J.R.; Viets, J.G.

1981-01-01

A Methyl isobutyl ketone-Amine synerGistic Iodide Complex (MAGIC) extraction system has been developed for use in geochemical exploration which separates a maximum number of trace elements from interfering matrices. Extraction curves for 18 of these trace elements are presented: Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Ga, In, Tl, Sa, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, Se, and Te. The acid normality of the aqueous phase controls the extraction into the organic phase, and each of these 18 elements has a broad range of HCl normality over which H is quantitatively extracted, making H possible to determine all 18 trace elements from a single sample digestion or leach solution. The extract can be analyzed directly by flame atomic absorption or inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. Most of these 18 elements can be determined by Nameless atomic absorption after special treatment of the organic extract.

Chemical systematics of the Shergotty meteorite and the composition of its parent body (Mars)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laul, J. C.; Smith, M. R.; Waenke, H.; Jagoutz, E.; Dreibus, G.

1986-01-01

Sixty elements in two bulk samples of Shergotty meteorite and 30 elements in various mineral separates of Shergotty were identified, using mainly INAA and RNAA techniques. In addition, elements leached out from powdered samples of Shergotty and EETA 79001 meteorites by 0.1 N HCl, as well as the elements of their residues, were analyzed. The results have indicated that Shergotty meteorite is homogeneous in its major element composition, but heterogeneous with respect to large-ion lithophile elements, such as K, Ba, Sr, Zr, Hf, Ta, Th, and rare-earth elements (REEs). It is even more heterogeneous with respect to volatile elements, such as Cd, Te, Tl, and Bi, and the siderophiles Au and Ag. The REE patterns of the Shergotty and EETA 79001 residues are identical, indicating that the parent magmas of both meteorites are compositionally similar. However, their leachate (phosphate) patterns are different, suggesting two components for the Shergotty, one of which is similar to the EETA 79001 leachate.

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a rapid tool for material analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussain, T.; Gondal, M. A.

2013-06-01

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a novel technique for elemental analysis based on laser-generated plasma. In this technique, laser pulses are applied for ablation of the sample, resulting in the vaporization and ionization of sample in hot plasma which is finally analyzed by the spectrometer. The elements are identified by their unique spectral signatures. LIBS system was developed for elemental analysis of solid and liquid samples. The developed system was applied for qualitative as well as quantitative measurement of elemental concentration present in iron slag and open pit ore samples. The plasma was generated by focusing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm on test samples to study the capabilities of LIBS as a rapid tool for material analysis. The concentrations of various elements of environmental significance such as cadmium, calcium, magnesium, chromium, manganese, titanium, barium, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc etc., in these samples were determined. Optimal experimental conditions were evaluated for improving the sensitivity of developed LIBS system through parametric dependence study. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) results were compared with the results obtained using standard analytical technique such as inductively couple plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP). Limit of detection (LOD) of our LIBS system were also estimated for the above mentioned elements. This study demonstrates that LIBS could be highly appropriate for rapid online analysis of iron slag and open pit waste.

Multivariate analysis of remote LIBS spectra using partial least squares, principal component analysis, and related techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Clegg, Samuel M; Barefield, James E; Wiens, Roger C

2008-01-01

Quantitative analysis with LIBS traditionally employs calibration curves that are complicated by the chemical matrix effects. These chemical matrix effects influence the LIBS plasma and the ratio of elemental composition to elemental emission line intensity. Consequently, LIBS calibration typically requires a priori knowledge of the unknown, in order for a series of calibration standards similar to the unknown to be employed. In this paper, three new Multivariate Analysis (MV A) techniques are employed to analyze the LIBS spectra of 18 disparate igneous and highly-metamorphosed rock samples. Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis is used to generate a calibration model from whichmore » unknown samples can be analyzed. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) are employed to generate a model and predict the rock type of the samples. These MV A techniques appear to exploit the matrix effects associated with the chemistries of these 18 samples.« less

The presence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inorganic elements in water and lakebed materials and the potential for bioconcentration in biota at established sampling sites on Lake Powell, Utah and Arizona

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schonauer, Kurt T.; Hart, Robert J.; Antweiler, Ronald C.

2014-01-01

The National Park Service is responsible for monitoring the effects of visitor use on the quality of water, lakebed material (bottom sediments), and biota, in Lake Powell, Utah and Arizona. A sampling program was begun in 2010 to assess the presence, distribution, and concentrations of organic and inorganic compounds in the water column and bottom sediment. In response to an Environmental Impact Statement regarding personal watercraft and as a continuation from previous studies by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, water samples were collected and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using semipermeable membrane devices and inorganic elements using a fixed-bottle sampler deployed at established monitoring sites during 2010 and 2011. Lakebed material samples were also analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inorganic elements, some of which could be harmful to aquatic biota if present at concentrations above established aquatic life criteria. Of the 44 PAH compounds analyzed, 26 individual compounds were detected above the censoring limit in the water column by semipermeable membrane devices. The highest number of compounds detected were at Lone Rock Beach, Wahweap Marina, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, and Antelope Marina which are all located in the southern part of Lake Powell where visitation and boat use is high. Because PAHs can remain near their source, the potential for bioconcentration is highest near these sites. The PAH compound found in the highest concentration was phenol (5,902 nanograms per liter), which is included in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s priority pollutants list. The dissolved inorganic chemistry of water samples measured at the sampling sites in Lake Powell defined three different patterns of elements: (1) concentrations were similar between sites in the upper part of the lake near Farley Canyon downstream to Halls Crossing Marina, a distance of about 36 lake miles, (2) concentrations varied depending on the element between Halls Crossing Marina downstream to the mouth of the Escalante River, a distance of about 33 lake miles, and (3) concentrations were similar between sites from below the mouth of the Escalante River to Glen Canyon Dam, a distance of about 68 lake miles. Analysis of lakebed bottom sediment material samples detected PAH compounds at all sampling sites except at Halls Crossing Marina, Stanton Creek, and Forgotten Canyon. Twenty-four of 44 PAHs analyzed in lakebed material were detected above the reporting limit. Perylene was the most prevalent compound detected above the reporting limit in lakebed material and was detected at three sampling sites. Concentrations of perylene ranged from an estimate of 24.0 to 47.9 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg). Fluoranthene had the highest concentration of any PAH and was detected at the Wahweap Marina with a concentration of 565 μg/kg. The highest sum of concentrations for all compounds found in lakebed material samples at one site was at the Wahweap Marina, which had concentrations five times higher than the next highest site. The three major tributaries to Lake Powell—the Colorado, Escalante, and San Juan Rivers—all showed elevated concentrations of inorganic elements in their delta sediments for most elements relative to the majority of the sediment samples taken from the lake itself. However, there were four lake sites that had concentrations for most inorganic elements that equaled or exceeded those of the tributaries. Two of these sites were at the northeast part of the lake, nearest to the Colorado River as it enters Lake Powell (Farley Canyon and Blue Notch Canyon), one was at the Escalante River below 50-Mile Canyon, and other was at Antelope Marina.

Water-Quality, Bed-Sediment, and Biological Data (October 2006 through September 2007) and Statistical Summaries of Long-Term Data for Streams in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dodge, Kent A.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Dyke, Jessica

2008-01-01

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to below Milltown Reservoir as part of a long-term monitoring program in the upper Clark Fork basin; additional water-quality samples were collected in the Clark Fork basin from sites near Milltown Reservoir downstream to near the confluence of the Clark Fork and Flathead River as part of a supplemental sampling program. The sampling programs were conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork basin of western Montana, with emphasis on trace elements associated with historic mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork and selected tributaries. Water-quality samples were collected periodically at 22 sites from October 2006 through September 2007. Bed-sediment and biological samples were collected once at 12 sites during August 2007. This report presents the analytical results and quality-assurance data for water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected at all long-term and supplemental monitoring sites from October 2006 through September 2007. Water-quality data include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Turbidity was analyzed for samples collected at sites where seasonal daily values of turbidity were being determined. Nutrients also were analyzed in the supplemental water-quality samples. Daily values of suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for four sites, and seasonal daily values of turbidity were determined for five sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Statistical summaries of long-term water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data for sites in the upper Clark Fork basin are provided for the period of record since 1985.

Trace element composition of Luna 24 Crisium VLT basalt

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haskin, L. A.

1978-01-01

The origins of the individual particles analyzed from the Luna 24 core and the information they provide on the trace-element composition of Mare Crisium basalt are considered. Previous analyses of several Luna 24 soil fragments are reviewed. It is concluded that: (1) the average trace-element concentrations for 12 VLT basalt fragments are the best available estimates for bulk samples of Crisium VLT basalt; (2) there is weak evidence that the average Crisium basalt might have a small positive Eu anomaly relative to chondritic matter; (3) the soils contain components from sources other than the Crisium VLT basalt; and (4) there is no convincing information in concentrations of rare-earth elements, Co, Sc, FeO, or Na2O among the analyzed fragments to indicate more than one parent basalt.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT XRF ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Elvatech, Ltd. ElvaX (ElvaX) x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer distributed in the United States by Xcalibur XRF Services (Xcalibur), was demonstrated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. The field portion of the demonstration was conducted in January 2005 at the Kennedy Athletic, Recreational and Social Park (KARS) at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The demonstration was designed to collect reliable performance and cost data for the ElvaX analyzer and seven other commercially available XRF instruments for measuring trace elements in soil and sediment. The performance and cost data were evaluated to document the relative performance of each XRF instrument. This innovative technology verification report describes the objectives and the results of that evaluation and serves to verify the performance and cost of the ElvaX analyzer. Separate reports have been prepared for the other XRF instruments that were evaluated as part of the demonstration. The objectives of the evaluation included determining each XRF instrument’s accuracy, precision, sample throughput, and tendency for matrix effects. To fulfill these objectives, the field demonstration incorporated the analysis of 326 prepared samples of soil and sediment that contained 13 target elements. The prepared samples included blends of environmental samples from nine different sample collection sites as well as s

Mineral/Water Analyzer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

An x-ray fluorescence spectrometer developed for the Viking Landers by Martin Marietta was modified for geological exploration, water quality monitoring, and aircraft engine maintenance. The aerospace system was highly miniaturized and used very little power. It irradiates the sample causing it to emit x-rays at various energies, then measures the energy levels for sample composition analysis. It was used in oceanographic applications and modified to identify element concentrations in ore samples, on site. The instrument can also analyze the chemical content of water, and detect the sudden development of excessive engine wear.

Metal(loid) accumulation in aquatic plants of a mining area: Potential for water quality biomonitoring and biogeochemical prospecting.

PubMed

Favas, Paulo J C; Pratas, João; Rodrigues, Nelson; D'Souza, Rohan; Varun, Mayank; Paul, Manoj S

2018-03-01

Aquatic bryophytes can accumulate extremely high levels of chemical elements because of their unique morphology and physiology which is markedly different from vascular plants. Four aquatic mosses-Fontinalis squamosa, Brachythecium rivulare, Platyhypnidium riparioides, Thamnobryum alopecurum-and a freshwater red alga Lemanea fluviatilis along with water samples from the streams of Góis mine region in Central Portugal were analyzed for 46 elements. Despite being below detection levels in the water samples, the elements Zr, V, Cr, Mo, Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pt, Ag, Ge and Bi were obtained in the plant samples. The moss T. alopecurum had the highest mean concentrations of 19 elements followed by B. rivulare (15 elements). Maximum accumulation of Rb, Ta and Au, however, was seen in the alga L. fluviatilis. Bioconcentration factors > 10 6 were obtained for a few metals. The investigation confirms that aquatic bryophytes can be suitable for water quality biomonitoring and biogeochemical prospecting in fresh water bodies owing to their high accumulative capacity of multi-elements from their aquatic ambient. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methods of Analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory - Determination of Elements in Whole-Water Digests Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

USGS Publications Warehouse

Garbarino, John R.; Struzeski, Tedmund M.

1998-01-01

Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) can be used to determine 26 elements in whole-water digests. Both methods have distinct advantages and disadvantages--ICP-OES is capable of analyzing samples with higher elemental concentrations without dilution, however, ICP-MS is more sensitive and capable of determining much lower elemental concentrations. Both techniques gave accurate results for spike recoveries, digested standard reference-water samples, and whole-water digests. Average spike recoveries in whole-water digests were 100 plus/minus 10 percent, although recoveries for digests with high dissolved-solid concentrations were lower for selected elements by ICP-MS. Results for standard reference-water samples were generally within 1 standard deviation of hte most probable values. Statistical analysis of the results from 43 whole-water digest indicated that there was no significant difference among ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and former official methods of analysis for 24 of the 26 elements evaluated.

Element content of Xanthoparmelia scabrosa growing on asphalt in urban and rural New Zealand

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bennett, J.P.; Wright, D.M.

2004-01-01

Xanthoparmelia scabrosa is a foliose lichen that grows abundantly on pedestrian and automobile asphalt in New Zealand, which are considered inhospitable habitats for lichens. Samples were collected at eight localities ranging from urban streets to very rural roads and analyzed for 28 chemical elements in order to determine elemental chemistry and to test hypotheses about tolerance mechanisms. Anthropogenic elements (Cu, Pb, and Zn) decreased significantly from urban to rural areas, while nutritional elements (K, P, and S) increased. Samples from urban areas contained 10% calcium. Sulfur was elevated at both urban and rural sites, possibly due to pollution in the former site and higher levels of sulfur-containing scabrosin esters at the rural sites. The ability of this lichen to accumulate high levels of Cu, Pb and Zn may make it useful as a remediation tool.

One sample is not enough: Differences and similarities in element concentrations of tree rings in dependence of sampling direction and height along the stem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scharnweber, Tobias; Hevia Cabal, Andrea; van der Maaten, Ernst; Buras, Allan; Wilmking, Martin

2015-04-01

Dendrochemistry, i.e. the chronological analysis of element concentrations in the rings of living trees and archaeological wood is an evolving field. Attempts have been made to attribute trends, peaks or depletion of certain metal elements to volcanic eruptions, atmospheric pollution and other abrupt and gradual environmental or climatic changes (e.g. Padilla and Anderson, 2002; Pearson et al., 2009; Watmough, 1999). Once scientifically successfully established, the relationship between environmental drivers (the contemporary growth environment) and element concentrations in tree rings may offer great annually or even intra-annually resolved proxy potential as trees or archaeological/subfossil wood are widely available. Current challenges to dendrochemistry are mainly due to: 1) Possible radial or vertical translocation processes of elements in the wood (active during heartwood formation or passive) that might blur or obscure any dendrochemical signal and hamper precise dating of events. 2) Labour and time intensive methods (e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)) that normally require sample digestion or solvent extraction and limit the amount of samples which can be processed. This leads to usually small sample sizes (<10) in dendrochemical studies, with mostly only one sample (core) per individual analyzed. X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) provides a non-destructive, high resolution and timesaving alternative and offers the opportunity to increase sample size, but needs to be methodologically tested to ensure scientific accuracy. In our study we systematically compare count-rates of certain elements (Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni) between three different stem expositions (N, S and W) and three different heights (base, middle and top) along the stems of mature deciduous (Castanea sativa Mill.) and coniferous (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees. Measurements are conducted with an ITRAX Multiscanner equipped with a Cu X-ray beam on 1.2 mm thick wooden laths with a resolution of 50 µm, averaged within annual ring boundaries and normalized for comparison. First results point to both differences and similarities in count-rates of the analyzed elements along stem radii and stem heights. Namely, clear but non-systematic differences were observed for most elements at high frequency (interannual) resolution, whereas longer term (decadal) trends were rather similar. This holds true for nutrients, non-nutrients as well as their ratios that for example could serve as indicators for changes in soil acidity. To enhance the desired common environmental signal and to average out physiologically controlled differences in element distribution in the xylem, we propose to analyze more than one sample per tree and to develop specific chronology building procedures also in dendrochemical studies. Meeting these initial challenges promises a host of new opportunities in dendrochemistry and all its scientific and practical applications. Padilla, K.L., Anderson, K.A., 2002. Trace element concentration in tree-rings biomonitoring centuries of environmental change. Chemosphere 49, 575-585. Pearson, C.L., Dale, D.S., Brewer, P.W., Kuniholm, P.I., Lipton, J., Manning, S.W., 2009. Dendrochemical analysis of a tree-ring growth anomaly associated with the Late Bronze Age eruption of Thera. J. Archaeol. Sci. 36, 1206-1214. Watmough, S.A., 1999. Monitoring historical changes in soil and atmospheric trace metal levels by dendrochemical analysis. Environ. Pollut. 106, 391-403.

Application of an ETV-ICP system for the determination of elements in human hair*1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plantikow-Voβgätter, F.; Denkhaus, E.

1996-01-01

When determining element contents in hair samples without sample digestion it is necessary to analyze large sample volumes in order to minimize problems of inhomogeneity of biological sample materials. Therefore an electrothermal vaporization system (ETV) is used for solid sample introduction into an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for the determination of matrix and trace elements in hair. This paper concentrates on the instrumental aspects without time consuming sample preparation. The results obtained for optimization tests, ETV operating parameters and ICP operating parameters, are shown and discussed. Standard additions are used for calibration for the determination of Zn, Mg, and Mn in human hair. Studies including reproducibility and detection limits for chosen elements have been carried out on certified reference materials (CRMs). The determination of reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) of n = 10) and detection limits (DLs) of Zn (RSD < 8.5%, DL < 0.8 μ g -1), Mn (RSD < 14.1%, DL < 0.3 μ g -1), and Mg (RSD < 7.4%, DL < 6.6 μ g -1) are satisfactory. The concentration values found show good agreement with the corresponding certified values. Further sample preparation steps, including hair sampling, washing procedure and homogenization for hair, relating to measurements of real hair samples are described.

Forensic Comparison of Soil Samples Using Nondestructive Elemental Analysis.

PubMed

Uitdehaag, Stefan; Wiarda, Wim; Donders, Timme; Kuiper, Irene

2017-07-01

Soil can play an important role in forensic cases in linking suspects or objects to a crime scene by comparing samples from the crime scene with samples derived from items. This study uses an adapted ED-XRF analysis (sieving instead of grinding to prevent destruction of microfossils) to produce elemental composition data of 20 elements. Different data processing techniques and statistical distances were evaluated using data from 50 samples and the log-LR cost (C llr ). The best performing combination, Canberra distance, relative data, and square root values, is used to construct a discriminative model. Examples of the spatial resolution of the method in crime scenes are shown for three locations, and sampling strategy is discussed. Twelve test cases were analyzed, and results showed that the method is applicable. The study shows how the combination of an analysis technique, a database, and a discriminative model can be used to compare multiple soil samples quickly. © 2016 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Temporal and spatial variation of trace elements in atmospheric deposition around the industrial area of Puchuncaví-Ventanas (Chile) and its influence on exceedances of lead and cadmium critical loads in soils.

PubMed

Rueda-Holgado, F; Calvo-Blázquez, L; Cereceda-Balic, F; Pinilla-Gil, E

2016-02-01

Fractionation of elemental contents in atmospheric samples is useful to evaluate pollution levels for risk assessment and pollution sources assignment. We present here the main results of long-term characterization of atmospheric deposition by using a recently developed atmospheric elemental fractionation sampler (AEFS) for major and trace elements monitoring around an important industrial complex located in Puchuncaví region (Chile). Atmospheric deposition samples were collected during two sampling campaigns (2010 and 2011) at four sampling locations: La Greda (LG), Los Maitenes (LM), Puchuncaví (PU) and Valle Alegre (VA). Sample digestion and ICP-MS gave elements deposition values (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Pb, Sb, Ti, V and Zn) in the insoluble fraction of the total atmospheric deposition. Results showed that LG location, the closest location to the industrial complex, was the more polluted sampling site having the highest values for the analyzed elements. PU and LM were the next more polluted and, finally, the lowest elements concentrations were registered at VA. The application of Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis identified industrial, traffic and mineral-crustal factors. We found critical loads exceedances for Pb at all sampling locations in the area affected by the industrial emissions, more significant in LG close to the industrial complex, with a trend to decrease in 2011, whereas no exceedances due to atmospheric deposition were detected for Cd. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Trace Elements in the Sea Surface Microlayer: Results from a Two Year Study in the Florida Keys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebling, A. M.; Westrich, J. R.; Lipp, E. K.; Mellett, T.; Buck, K. N.; Landing, W. M.

2016-02-01

Natural and anthropogenic aerosols are a significant source of trace elements to oligotrophic ocean surface waters, where they provide episodic pulses of limiting micronutrients for the microbial community. Opportunistic bacteria have been shown to experience rapid growth during deposition events. However, little is known about the fate of trace elements at the air-sea interface, i.e. the sea surface microlayer. It has been hypothesized that dust particles would be retained in the sea surface microlayer long enough to undergo chemical and physical changes that would affect the bioavailability of trace elements. In this study, aerosols, sea surface microlayer, and underlying water column samples were collected in the Florida Keys in July 2014 and May 2015 at various locations and analyzed for a suite of dissolved and particulate trace elements. Sea surface microlayer samples ( 50 μm) were collected using a cylinder of ultra-pure quartz glass; a novel adaptation of the glass plate technique. Sampling sites ranged from a more pristine environment approximately ten kilometers offshore to a more anthropogenic environment within a shallow bay a few hundred meters offshore. While it was clear from the results that dust deposition events played a large role in the chemical composition of the sea surface microlayer (elevated concentrations in dissolved and particulate trace elements associated with dust deposition), the location where the samples were collected also had a large impact on the sea surface microlayer as well as the underlying water column. The results were compared with other parameters analyzed such as Vibrio cultures as well as iron speciation, providing an important step towards our goal of understanding of the fate of trace elements in the sea surface microlayer as well as the specific effects of aeolian dust deposition on heterotrophic microbes in the upper ocean.

Development of internal forest soil reference samples and testing of digestion methods

Treesearch

J.E. Hislop; J.W. Hornbeck; S.W. Bailey; R.A. Hallett

1998-01-01

Our research requires determinations of total elemental concentrations of forest soils. The lack of certified forest soil reference materials led us to develop internal reference samples. Samples were collected from three soil horizons (Oa, B, and C) at three locations having forested, acidic soils similar to those we commonly analyze. A shatterbox was used to...

Trace Elements in Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary Clay at Gubbio, Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebihara, M.; Miura, T.

1992-07-01

In 1980, Alvarez et al. reported high Ir concentrations for the Cretaceous-Tertiary (hereafter, K/T) boundary layer, suggesting an impact of extraterrestrial material as a possible cause of the sudden mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period. Since then, high Ir abundances have been reported for K/T layers all over the world. Iridium enrichments were alternatively explained in terms of volcanic eruptions (Officer and Drake, 1982) or sedimentation (Zoller et al, 1982). Thus, abundances of Ir only cannot be critical in explaining the cause of the mass extinctions at the K/T boundary. In contrast to the fairly large number of Ir data for K/T boundary geological materials, only limited data are available for other siderophile elements. Relative abundances of siderophiles must be more informative in considering the causes of extinction, and provide further data on the type of extraterrestrial material of the projectile if siderophile abundances are in favor of an impact as the cause of the mass extinction at the K/T boundary. Thus, we analyzed additional K/T boundary materials for trace elements, including some of the siderophiles. A total of 7 samples collected from the K/T boundary near Gubbio, Italy (three from Bottaccione, four from Contessa) were analyzed. For comparison, we analyzed three additional samples, one from a Cretaceous sediment layer and the remaining two from a Tertiary layer. Four siderophile elements (Ir, Pt, Au, and Pd) were measured by RNAA and more than 25 elements, including 9 lanthanoids, were measured by INAA. The siderophiles listed above and Ni were found to be present in all of the boundary clay samples. They have C1-normalized abundances of 0.02 for Ni, Ir, and Pt, 0.04 for Pd, and Au was exceptionally depleted at 0.005. Both Ni and Ir show fairly small variations in abundances among the clay samples, whereas the other three elements show quite large variations, exceeding error limits. We believe that similar enrichments for these siderophiles in the K/T boundary clays were caused by an impact of extraterrestrial material having siderophiles that have not been largely fractionated. Similar abundance patterns of REE were confirmed not only for clay samples but also for the Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments. This suggests that sedimentation continued in similar circumstances without a large disturbance at the K/T boundary. We confirmed excellent correlations among Ir, As, and Sb abundances in the K/T samples, suggesting that they had a similar solution chemistry when sedimentation occurred. Both As and Sb show similar abundances, even for the Cretaceous as well as the Tertiary sediments, while Ir does not. Neither Pd nor Pt shows any correlation with these elements or with each other. This suggests that Ir was trapped into the clay together with As and Sb, but not with Pd or Pt. It is highly unlikely that these siderophiles were supplied only from sea water, and were eventually greatly enriched in clay materials, with the relative elemental abundances coinciding with those in chondrites. Thus, our data strongly suggest that a large impact of extraterrestrial material (chondritic?) caused the enrichment of siderophiles at K/T boundary. Acknowledgment. We are indebted to M. Ozima and S. Amari for samples analyzed in this work. References Alvarez, L.W., Alvarez, W., Asaro, F., and Michel, H.V. (1980) Science 208, 1095-1108. Officer, C.B. and Drake, C.L. (1982) Science 219, 1383-1390. Zoller, W.H., Parrington, J.R., and Kotra, J.M.P. (1983) Science 222, 1118-1120.

Measuring H, O, li, B, and BE on Planetary Surfaces: Calibration of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (libs) Data Under Air, Vacuum, and CO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dyar, M. D.; Nelms, M.; Breves, E. A.

2012-12-01

Laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS), as implemented on the ChemCam instrument on Mars Science Lab and the proposed New Frontiers SAGE mission to Venus, can analyze elements from H to Pb from up to 7m standoff. This study examines the capabilities of LIBS to analyze H, O, B, Be, and Li under conditions simulating Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Of these, H is a major constituent of clay minerals and a key indicator of the presence of water. Its abundance in terrestrial materials ranges from 0 ppm up to 10's of wt.% H2O in hydrated sulfates and clays, with prominent emission lines occurring ca. 656.4 nm. O is an important indicator of atmospheric and magmatic coevolution, and has lines ca. 615.8, 656.2, 777.6, and 844.8 nm. Unfortunately there are very few geological samples from which O has been directly measured, but stoichiometry suggests that O varies from ca. 0 wt.% in sulfides to 21% in ferberite, 32% in ilmenite, 42% in amphiboles, 53% in quartz, 63% in melanterite, and 71% in epsomite. Li (lines at 413.3, 460.4, and 670.9 nm in vacuum), B (412.3 nm), and Be (313.1 nm) are highly mobile elements and key indicators of interaction with water. Local atmospheric composition and pressure significantly influence LIBS plasma intensity because the local atmosphere and the breakdown products from the atmospheric species interact with the ablated surface material in the plasma. Measurement of light elements with LIBS requires that spectra be acquired under conditions matching the remote environment. LIBS is critically dependent on the availability of well characterized, homogeneous reference materials that are closely matched in matrix (composition and structure) to the sample being studied. In modern geochemistry, analyses of most major, minor, and trace elements are routinely made. However, quantitative determination of light element concentrations in geological specimens still represents a major analytical challenge. Thus standards for which hydrogen, oxygen, and other light elements are directly measured are nearly nonexistent in the 1-2 g quantities needed for LIBS analyses. For this study, we have obtained two sample suites that provide calibrations needed for accurate analyses of H, O, B, Be, and Li in geological samples. The first suite of 11 samples was analyzed for oxygen by fast neutron activation analysis. The second suite includes 11 gem-quality minerals representing the major rock-forming species for B, Li, and Be-rich parageneses. Light elements were directly analyzed using a combination of EMPA, XRF, ion microprobe, uranium extraction, proton-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE), and prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA). LIBS spectra were acquired at Mount Holyoke College under air, vacuum, and CO2 to simulate terrestrial, lunar, and martian environments. Spectra were then used to develop three separate calibration models (one for each environment), enabling LIBS characterization of light elements using multivariate analyses. Results show that when direct analyses of H, O, Li, B, and Be are used rather than LOI results, inferred, or indirectly calculated values, optimal root mean squared errors of prediction result. We are actively adding samples to these calibration suites, and we expect that prediction errors (accuracies) of <1wt% for these elements are possible.

Elemental analysis of printed circuit boards considering the ROHS regulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wienold, Julia, E-mail: julia.wienold@bam.de; Recknagel, Sebastian, E-mail: sebastian.recknagel@bam.de; Scharf, Holger, E-mail: holger.scharf@bam.de

2011-03-15

The EU RoHS Directive (2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council) bans the placing of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants on the EU market. It necessitates methods for the evaluation of RoHS compliance of assembled electronic equipment. In this study mounted printed circuit boards from personal computers were analyzed on their content of the three elements Cd, Pb and Hg which were limited by the EU RoHS directive. Main focus of the investigations was the influence ofmore » sample pre-treatment on the precision and reproducibility of the results. The sample preparation steps used were based on the guidelines given in EN 62321. Five different types of dissolution procedures were tested on different subsequent steps of sample treatment like cutting and milling. Elemental analysis was carried out using ICP-OES, XRF and CV-AFS (Hg). The results obtained showed that for decision-making with respect to RoHS compliance a size reduction of the material to be analyzed to particles {<=}1.5 mm can already be sufficient. However, to ensure analytical results with relative standard deviations of less than 20%, as recommended by the EN 62321, a much larger effort for sample processing towards smaller particle sizes might be required which strongly depends on the mass fraction of the element under investigation.« less

Study of heavy metals and other elements in macrophyte algae using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carvalho, M.L.; Amorim, P.; Marques, M.I.M.

1997-04-01

Fucus vesiculosus L. seaweeds from three estuarine stations were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, providing results for the concentration of total K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Sr, and Pb. Four different structures of the algae (base, stipe, reproductive organs, and growing tips) were analyzed to study the differential accumulation of heavy metals by different parts of Fucus. Some elements (e.g., Cu and Fe) are preferentially accumulated in the base of the algae, whereas others (e.g., As) exhibit higher concentrations in the reproductive organs and growing tips. The pattern of accumulation in different structures is similarmore » for Cu, Zn, and Pb, but for other metals there is considerable variability in accumulation between parts of the plant. This is important in determining which structures of the plant should be used for biomonitoring. For samples collected at stations subject to differing metal loads, the relative elemental composition is approximately constant, notwithstanding significant variation in absolute values. The proportion of metals in Fucus is similar to that found in other estuaries, where metal concentrations are significantly lower. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence has been shown to be a suitable technique for multielement analysis in this type of sample. No chemical pretreatment is required, minimizing sample contamination. The small amount of sample required, and the wide range of elements that can be detected simultaneously make energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence a valuable tool for pollution studies.« less

Determination and evaluation of cadmium, copper, nickel, and zinc in agricultural soils of western Macedonia, Greece.

PubMed

Papadopoulos, A; Prochaska, C; Papadopoulos, F; Gantidis, N; Metaxa, E

2007-10-01

The objective of this study was to determine the levels of major phytotoxic metals--including cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn)--in agricultural soils of Western Macedonia, Greece. We also wanted to determine the possible relationships among elements and between soil properties and elemental concentrations. Surface soil samples, n = 570, were collected and analyzed. The results of the elemental analysis showed that the mean metal concentrations were consistent with reported typical concentrations found in Greek agricultural soils in the cases of Zn and Cu. Cd exhibited lower and Ni higher mean concentrations than the typical levels reported in the literature. Metal concentrations in the majority of the examined samples (>69%) were found to be higher than the respective critical plant-deficiency levels. However, only 0.4% and 0.2% of the analyzed soil samples, respectively, exhibited Cd and Ni concentrations higher than the levels that cause plant toxicity, as referenced by other investigators. These results suggest that the soils studied can be considered as unpolluted with respect to the examined food-chain metal contaminants. However, the levels of the metal concentrations in some of the soil samples, and the low correlation of the metals with soil properties, suggest an anthropogenic rather that lithogenic origin.

Water-Quality, Bed-Sediment, and Biological Data (October 2007 through September 2008) and Statistical Summaries of Long-Term Data for Streams in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dodge, Kent A.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Dyke, Jessica

2009-01-01

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to near Missoula as part of a long-term monitoring program in the upper Clark Fork basin; additional water samples were collected in the Clark Fork basin from sites near Missoula downstream to near the confluence of the Clark Fork and Flathead River as part of a supplemental sampling program. The sampling programs were conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork basin of western Montana, with emphasis on trace elements associated with historic mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork and selected tributaries. Water samples were collected periodically at 23 sites from October 2007 through September 2008. Bed-sediment and biota samples were collected once at 13 sites during August 2008. This report presents the analytical results and quality assurance data for water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected at all long-term and supplemental monitoring sites from October 2007 through September 2008. Water-quality data include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Turbidity was analyzed for water samples collected at sites where seasonal daily values of turbidity were being determined and at Clark Fork above Missoula. Nutrients also were analyzed at all the supplemental water-quality sites, except for Clark Fork Bypass, near Bonner. Daily values of suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for four sites, and seasonal daily values of turbidity were determined for four sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Statistical summaries of long-term water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data for sites in the upper Clark Fork basin are provided for the period of record since 1985.

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 2008 through September 2009) and statistical summaries of long-term data for streams in the Clark Fork basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dodge, Kent A.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Dyke, Jessica

2010-01-01

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to near Missoula, Montana, as part of a long-term monitoring program in the upper Clark Fork basin; additional water samples were collected in the Clark Fork basin from sites near Missoula downstream to near the confluence of the Clark Fork and Flathead River as part of a supplemental sampling program. The sampling programs were conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork basin of western Montana, with emphasis on trace elements associated with historic mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork and selected tributaries. Water samples were collected periodically at 24 sites from October 2008 through September 2009. Bed-sediment and biota samples were collected once at 13 sites during August 2009. This report presents the analytical results and quality-assurance data for water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected at all long-term and supplemental monitoring sites from October 2008 through September 2009. Water-quality data include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Turbidity was analyzed for water samples collected at the four sites where seasonal daily values of turbidity were being determined as well as at Clark Fork above Missoula. Nutrients also were analyzed at all the supplemental water-quality sites, except for Clark Fork Bypass, near Bonner. Daily values of suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for four sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Statistical summaries of long-term water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data for sites in the upper Clark Fork basin are provided for the period of record since 1985.

Geochemistry and genesis of the angrites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mittlefehldt, David W.; Lindstrom, Marilyn M.

1990-01-01

The major and trace elements were analyzed in samples of LEW86010, LEW87051, and Angra dos Reis angrites were analyzed using INAA and fused-bead EMP techniques. Results suggest that all three angrites originated on a volatile-depleted (Na-poor) but oxidized parent body or on several bodies. The combination of low Na and high FeO/MnO found in these samples suggests that the extreme Na depletion was caused by parent-body outgassing during differentiation, rather than by nebular processes. It was also found that the refractory-element abundances observed in LEW86010 and LEW87051 are related via olivine control; it is suggested that LEW86010 may be a residual melt from a LEW87051-like precursor or that LEW87051 formed from a LEW86010-like precursor via olivine accumulation. On the other hand, the Angra dos Reis displayed an unusual refractory element pattern suggesting that either the angrite parent body was heterogeneous or that Angra dos Reis was formed on a parent body different from that of the other two angrites.

Emission spectrographic determination of volatile trace elements in geologic materials by a carrier distillation technique

USGS Publications Warehouse

Barton, H.N.

1986-01-01

Trace levels of chalcophile elements that form volatile sulfide minerals are determined in stream sediments and in the nonmagnetic fraction of a heavy-mineral concentrate of stream sediments by a carrier distillation emission spectrographic method. Photographically recorded spectra of samples are visually compared with those of synthetic standards for the two sample types. Rock and soil samples may also be analyzed by comparison with the stream-sediment standards. A gallium oxide spectrochemical carrier/buffer enhances the early emission of the volatile elements. Detection limits in parts per million attained are: Sb 5, As 20, Bi 0.1, Cd 1, Cu 1, Pb 2, Ag 0.1, Zn 2, and Sn 0.1. A comparison with other methods of analysis, total-burn emission and atomic absorption spectroscopy, shows good correlation for standard reference for materials and samples from a variety of geologic terranes. ?? 1986.

X-ray fluorescence analysis of Mexican varieties of dried chili peppers II: Commercial and home-grown specimens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romero-Dávila, E.; Miranda, J.; Pineda, J. C.

2015-07-01

Elemental analyses of samples of Mexican varieties of dried chili peppers were carried out using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Several specimens of Capsicum annuum L., Capsicum chinense, and Capsicum pubescens were analyzed and the results compared to previous studies of elemental contents in other varieties of Capsicum annuum (ancho, morita, chilpotle, guajillo, pasilla, and árbol). The first set of samples was bought packaged in markets. In the present work, the study focuses on home-grown samples of the árbol and chilpotle varieties, commercial habanero (Capsicum chinense), as well as commercial and home-grown specimens of manzano (Capsicum pubescencs). Samples were freeze dried and pelletized. XRF analyses were carried out using a spectrometer based on an Rh X-ray tube, using a Si-PIN detector. The system detection calibration was performed through the analysis of the NIST certified reference materials 1547 (peach leaves) and 1574 (tomato leaves), while accuracy was checked with the reference material 1571 (orchard leaves). Elemental contents of all elements in the new set of samples were similar to those of the first group. Nevertheless, it was found that commercial samples contain high amounts of Br, while home-grown varieties do not.

Re-evaluation and extension of the scope of elements in US Geological Survey Standard Reference Water Samples

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peart, D.B.; Antweiler, Ronald C.; Taylor, Howard E.; Roth, D.A.; Brinton, T.I.

1998-01-01

More than 100 US Geological Survey (USGS) Standard Reference Water Samples (SRWSs) were analyzed for numerous trace constituents, including Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, I, Fe, Pb, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, Te, Tl, U, V, Zn and major elements (Ca, Mg, Na, SiO2, SO4, Cl) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. In addition, 15 USGS SRWSs and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference material (SRM) 1641b were analyzed for mercury using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Also USGS SRWS Hg-7 was analyzed using isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results were compared with the reported certified values of the following standard reference materials: NIST SRM 1643a, 1643b, 1643c and 1643d and National Research Council of Canada Riverine Water Reference Materials for Trace Metals SLRS-1, SLRS-2 and SLRS-3. New concentration values for trace and major elements in the SRWSs, traceable to the certified standards, are reported. Additional concentration values are reported for elements that were neither previously published for the SRWSs nor traceable to the certified reference materials. Robust statistical procedures were used that were insensitive to outliers. These data can be used for quality assurance/quality control purposes in analytical laboratories.

Watershed trend analysis and water-quality assessment using bottom-sediment cores from Cheney Reservoir, south-central Kansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pope, Larry M.

1998-01-01

An examination of Cheney Reservoir bottom sediment was conducted in August 1997 to describe long-term trends and document the occurrence of selected constituents at concentrations that may be detrimental to aquatic organisms. Average concentrations of total phosphorus in bottom-sediment cores ranged from 94 to 674 milligrams per kilogram and were statistically related to silt- and (or) clay-size particles. Results from selected sampling sites in Cheney Reservoir indicate an increasing trend in total phosphorus concentrations. This trend is probably of nonpoint-source origin and may be related to an increase in fertilizer sales in the area, which more than doubled between 1965 and 1996, and to livestock production. Few organochlorine compounds were detected in bottom-sediment samples from Cheney Reservoir. DDT, its degradation products DDD and DDE, and dieldrin had detectable concentrations in the seven samples that were analyzed. DDT and DDD were each detected in one sample at concentrations of 1.0 and 0.65 microgram per kilogram, respectively. By far, the most frequently detected organochlorine insecticide was DDE, which was detected in all seven samples, ranging in concentration from 0.31 to 1.3 micrograms per kilogram. A decreasing trend in DDE concentrations was evident in sediment-core data from one sampling site. Dieldrin was detected in one sample from each of two sampling sites at concentrations of 0.21 and 0.22 micrograms per kilogram. Polychlorinated biphenyls were not detected in any bottom-sediment sample analyzed. Selected organophosphate, chlorophenoxy-acid, triazine, and acetanilide pesticides were analyzed in 18 bottom-sediment samples. Of the 23 pesticides analyzed, only the acetanilide herbicide metolachlor was detected (in 22 percent of the samples). Seven bottom-sediment samples were analyzed for major metals and trace elements. The median and maximum concentrations of arsenic and chromium, the maximum concentration of copper, and all concentrations of nickel in the seven samples were in the range where adverse effects to aquatic organisms occasionally occur. No time trends in trace elements were discernable in the August 1997 data.

Spark discharge trace element detection system

DOEpatents

Adler-Golden, Steven; Bernstein, Lawrence S.; Bien, Fritz

1988-01-01

A spark discharge trace element detection system is provided which includes a spark chamber including a pair of electrodes for receiving a sample of gas to be analyzed at no greater than atmospheric pressure. A voltage is provided across the electrodes for generating a spark in the sample. The intensity of the emitted radiation in at least one primary selected narrow band of the radiation is detected. Each primary band corresponds to an element to be detected in the gas. The intensity of the emission in each detected primary band is integrated during the afterglow time interval of the spark emission and a signal representative of the integrated intensity of the emission in each selected primary bond is utilized to determine the concentration of the corresponding element in the gas.

Spark discharge trace element detection system

DOEpatents

Adler-Golden, S.; Bernstein, L.S.; Bien, F.

1988-08-23

A spark discharge trace element detection system is provided which includes a spark chamber including a pair of electrodes for receiving a sample of gas to be analyzed at no greater than atmospheric pressure. A voltage is provided across the electrodes for generating a spark in the sample. The intensity of the emitted radiation in at least one primary selected narrow band of the radiation is detected. Each primary band corresponds to an element to be detected in the gas. The intensity of the emission in each detected primary band is integrated during the afterglow time interval of the spark emission and a signal representative of the integrated intensity of the emission in each selected primary bond is utilized to determine the concentration of the corresponding element in the gas. 12 figs.

Toxic trace element assessment for soils/sediments deposited during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita from southern Louisiana, USA: a sequential extraction analysis.

PubMed

Shi, Honglan; Witt, Emitt C; Shu, Shi; Su, Tingzhi; Wang, Jianmin; Adams, Craig

2010-07-01

Analysis of soil/sediment samples collected in the southern Louisiana, USA, region three weeks after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita passed was performed using sequential extraction procedures to determine the origin, mode of occurrence, biological availability, mobilization, and transport of trace elements in the environment. Five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to iron (Fe)-manganese (Mn) oxides, bound to organic matter, and residual, were subsequently extracted. The toxic trace elements Pb, As, V, Cr, Cu, and Cd were analyzed in each fraction, together with Fe in 51 soil/sediment samples. Results indicated that Pb and As were at relatively high concentrations in many of the soil/sediment samples. Because the forms in which Pb and As are present tend to be highly mobile under naturally occurring environmental conditions, these two compounds pose an increased health concern.Vanadium and Cr were mostly associated with the crystal line nonmobile residual fraction. A large portion of the Cu was associated with organic matter and residual fraction. Cadmium concentrations were low in all soil/sediment samples analyzed and most of this element tended to be associated with the mobile fractions. An average of 21% of the Fe was found in the Fe-Mn oxide fraction, indicating that a substantial part of the Fe was in an oxidized form. The significance of the overall finding of the present study indicated that the high concentrations and high availabilities of the potentially toxic trace elements As and Pb may impact the environment and human health in southern Louisiana and, in particular, the New Orleans area. Copyright (c) 2010 SETAC.

Heavy metals in wild rice from northern Wisconsin

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bennett, J.P.; Chiriboga, E.; Coleman, J.; Waller, D.M.

2000-01-01

Wild rice grain samples from various parts of the world have been found to have elevated concentrations of heavy metals, raising concern for potential effects on human health. It was hypothesized that wild rice from north-central Wisconsin could potentially have elevated concentrations of some heavy metals because of possible exposure to these elements from the atmosphere or from water and sediments. In addition, no studies of heavy metals in wild rice from Wisconsin had been performed, and a baseline study was needed for future comparisons. Wild rice plants were collected from four areas in Bayfield, Forest, Langlade, Oneida, Sawyer and Wood Counties in September, 1997 and 1998 and divided into four plant parts for elemental analyses: roots, stems, leaves and seeds. A total of 194 samples from 51 plants were analyzed across the localities, with an average of 49 samples per part depending on the element. Samples were cleaned of soil, wet digested, and analyzed by ICP for Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mg, Pb, Se and Zn. Roots contained the highest concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se. Copper was highest in both roots and seeds, while Zn was highest just in seeds. Magnesium was highest in leaves. Seed baseline ranges for the 10 elements were established using the 95% confidence intervals of the medians. Wild rice plants from northern Wisconsin had normal levels of the nutritional elements Cu, Mg and Zn in the seeds. Silver, Cd, Hg, Cr, and Se were very low in concentration or within normal limits for food plants. Arsenic and Pb, however, were elevated and could pose a problem for human health. The pathway for As, Hg and Pb to the plants could be atmospheric.

Trace metal concentrations of surface snow from Ingrid Christensen Coast, East Antarctica--spatial variability and possible anthropogenic contributions.

PubMed

Thamban, Meloth; Thakur, Roseline C

2013-04-01

To investigate the distribution and source pathways of environmentally critical trace metals in coastal Antarctica, trace elemental concentrations were analyzed in 36 surface snow samples along a coast to inland transect in the Ingrid Christensen Coast of East Antarctica. The samples were collected and analyzed using the clean protocols and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Within the coastal ice-free and ice-covered region, marine elements (Na, Ca, Mg, K, Li, and Sr) revealed enhanced concentrations as compared with inland sites. Along with the sea-salt elements, the coastal ice-free sites were also characterized by enhanced concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, V, Cr, and Zn. The crustal enrichment factors (Efc) confirm a dominant crustal source for Fe and Al and a significant source for Cr, V, Co, and Ba, which clearly reflects the influence of petrological characteristics of the Larsemann Hills on the trace elemental composition of surface snow. The Efc of elements revealed that Zn, Cu, Mo, Cd, As, Se, Sb, and Pb are highly enriched compared with the known natural sources, suggesting an anthropogenic origin for these elements. Evaluation of the contributions to surface snow from the different sources suggests that while contribution from natural sources is relatively significant, local contamination from the increasing research station and logistic activities within the proximity of study area cannot be ignored.

Rainwater analysis by synchrotron radiation-total reflection X-ray fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López, María L.; Ceppi, Sergio A.; Asar, María L.; Bürgesser, Rodrigo E.; Ávila, Eldo E.

2015-11-01

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis excited with synchrotron radiation was used to quantify the elemental concentration of rainwater in Córdoba, Argentina. Standard solutions with gallium as internal standard were prepared for the calibration curves. Rainwater samples of 5 μl were added to an acrylic reflector, allowed to dry, and analyzed for 200 s measuring time. The elemental concentrations of As, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sr, V, and Zn were determined. The electrical conductivity, pH, and elemental concentrations were compared to data previously reported for the soluble fraction of rainwater at different sites. A factor analysis was performed in order to determine the sources that contributed to the elemental concentration in rainwater. Anthropogenic sources were identified as traffic pollution, vehicular emissions, and metallurgical factories. The quality of rainwater was analyzed by comparing the concentrations of all the elements in rainwater samples with the WHO guideline values for drinking water. The results show the need to control the atmospheric emissions in order to preserve the quality of rainwater. SR-TXRF analysis of chemical composition of rainwater in Córdoba represents the very first contribution in the region to the knowledge of the concentration of trace metals in the soluble fraction of rainwater. These data are scarce, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.

Discrete element method (DEM) simulations of stratified sampling during solid dosage form manufacturing.

PubMed

Hancock, Bruno C; Ketterhagen, William R

2011-10-14

Discrete element model (DEM) simulations of the discharge of powders from hoppers under gravity were analyzed to provide estimates of dosage form content uniformity during the manufacture of solid dosage forms (tablets and capsules). For a system that exhibits moderate segregation the effects of sample size, number, and location within the batch were determined. The various sampling approaches were compared to current best-practices for sampling described in the Product Quality Research Institute (PQRI) Blend Uniformity Working Group (BUWG) guidelines. Sampling uniformly across the discharge process gave the most accurate results with respect to identifying segregation trends. Sigmoidal sampling (as recommended in the PQRI BUWG guidelines) tended to overestimate potential segregation issues, whereas truncated sampling (common in industrial practice) tended to underestimate them. The size of the sample had a major effect on the absolute potency RSD. The number of sampling locations (10 vs. 20) had very little effect on the trends in the data, and the number of samples analyzed at each location (1 vs. 3 vs. 7) had only a small effect for the sampling conditions examined. The results of this work provide greater understanding of the effect of different sampling approaches on the measured content uniformity of real dosage forms, and can help to guide the choice of appropriate sampling protocols. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Arsenic and lead concentrations in the Pond Creek and Fire Clay coal beds, eastern Kentucky coal field

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hower, J.C.; Robertson, J.D.; Wong, A.S.; Eble, C.F.; Ruppert, L.F.

1997-01-01

The Middle Pennsylvanian Breathitt Formation (Westphalian B) Pond Creek and Fire Clay coal beds are the 2 largest producing coal beds in eastern Kentucky. Single channel samples from 22 localities in the Pond Creek coal bed were obtained from active coal mines in Pike and Martin Countries, Kentucky, and a total of 18 Fire Clay coal bed channel samples were collected from localities in the central portion of the coal field. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the concentration and distribution of potentially hazardous elements in the Fire Clay and Pond Creek coal beds, with particular emphasis on As and Pb, 2 elements that are included in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments as potential air toxics. The 2 coals are discussed individually as the depositional histories are distinct, the Fire Clay coal bed having more sites where relatively high-S lithologies are encountered. In an effort to characterize these coals, 40 whole channel samples, excluding 1-cm partings, were analyzed for major, minor and trace elements by X-ray fluorescence and proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy. Previously analyzed samples were added to provide additional geographic coverage and lithotype samples from one site were analyzed in order to provide detail of vertical elemental trends. The As and Pb levels in the Fire Clay coal bed tend to be higher than in the Pond Creek coal bed. One whole channel sample of the Fire Clay coal bed contains 1156 ppm As (ash basis), with a single lithotype containing 4000 ppm As (ash basis). Most of the As and Pb appears to be associated with pyrite, which potentially can be removed in beneficiation (particularly coarser pyrite). Disseminated finer pyrite may not be completely removable by cleaning. In the examination of pyrite conducted in this study, it does not appear that significant concentration of As or Pb occurs in the finer pyrite forms. The biggest potential problem of As- or Pb-enriched pyrite is, therefore, one of refuse disposal.

Chemical composition of rocks and soils at Taurus-Littrow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rose, H. J., Jr.; Cuttitta, F.; Berman, S.; Brown, F. W.; Carron, M. K.; Christian, R. P.; Dwornik, E. J.; Greenland, L. P.

1974-01-01

Seventeen soils and seven rock samples were analyzed for major elements, minor elements, and trace elements. Unlike the soils at previous Apollo sites, which showed little difference in composition at each collection area, the soils at Taurus-Littrow vary widely. Three soil types are evident, representative of (1) the light mantle at the South Massif, (2) the dark mantle in the valley, and (3) the surface material at the North Massif. The dark-mantle soils are chemically similar to those at Tranquillitatis. Basalt samples from the dark mantle are chemically similar although they range from fine to coarse grained. It is suggested that they originated from the same source but crystallized at varying depths from the surface.

Occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements in fish tissue in the lower Tennessee River basin, 1980-98

USGS Publications Warehouse

Knight, R.R.; Powell, J.R.

2001-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey, as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, evaluated the occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements in fish tissue in samples collected in the lower Tennessee River Basin study unit. Fish tissue analysis provides a time-averaged measurement of contaminants as well as a direct measurement of the contaminants that bioaccumulate in fish tissue. Bioaccumulation of contaminants in fish tissue may result in concentrations that can affect human, wildlife, or aquatic health. Data for two types of tissue analyses were evaluated to assess the occurrence and distribution of contaminants: whole fish for organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and fish fillets for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements. The fish tissue data analyzed for this study cover an 18-year span including data collected in 1998 by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program; data collected from 1980 through 1997 by the Tennessee Valley Authority; and data collected from 1992 through 1997 by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Concentration data for constituents that are on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Priority Pollutant List were summarized and compared against existing action levels or guidelines.From the list of organochlorine pesticide compounds analyzed, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), a breakdown product of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), was the most commonly detected compound with detections at 83 percent of the sites sampled. Eleven p,p'-DDE samples exceeded action levels or guidelines with concentrations ranging from 0.20 to 12.8 milligrams per kilogram. Five other organochlorine compounds, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDD), dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, and polychlorinated biphenyls, also exceeded action levels and guidelines, but the detection frequencies at sampling sites generally were less than 70 percent. Mercury, the only trace element to exceed a guideline, was detected at 51 of 102 sites sampled for trace elements. Selenium was detected in fish fillet samples from 70 of 102 sites sampled, which was more sites than for any other trace element; however, selenium did not exceed the 50 micrograms per gram U.S. Environmental Protection Agency screening criteria. Arsenic and cadmium also were detected at 44 and 54 percent of the sampling sites, respectively.

Interaction between carcinogenic and anti-carcinogenic trace elements in the scalp hair samples of different types of Pakistani female cancer patients.

PubMed

Wadhwa, Sham Kumar; Kazi, Tasneem Gul; Afridi, Hassan Imran; Talpur, Farah Naz; Naeemullah

2015-01-15

It was investigated that carcinogenic processes are linked with the imbalances of essential trace and toxic elements in body fluid and tissues of human. In this study, the relationship between carcinogenic elements, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni), and anti-carcinogenic elements, selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), in the scalp hair of different female cancer patients (breast, cervix, mouth and ovarian) was studied. The scalp hair samples were collected from cancer patients and referent female subjects of the same age group and socioeconomic status. The scalp hair samples were oxidized by 65% nitric acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide by microwave oven and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference material of human hair (BCR 397). The mean concentrations of As, Cd, and Ni were found to be significantly higher in the scalp hair samples of cancerous patients as compared to referents, while reverse results were obtained in the case of Zn and Se (p<0.01). The study revealed that low level of trace elements (Se, Zn) and high level of heavy elements (As, Cd, and Ni) were associated with increased risk of cancer. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of trace element pollution in the heavily contaminated Santa Gilla lagoon (Cagliari, Italy).

PubMed

Frontalini, Fabrizio; Buosi, Carla; Da Pelo, Stefania; Coccioni, Rodolfo; Cherchi, Antonietta; Bucci, Carla

2009-06-01

In order to assess the response of benthic foraminifera to trace element pollution, a study of benthic foraminiferal assemblages was carried out into sediment samples collected from the Santa Gilla lagoon (Sardinia, Italy). The lagoon has been contaminated by industrial waste, mainly trace elements, as well as by agricultural and domestic effluent. The analysis of surficial sediment shows enrichment in trace elements, including Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. Biotic and abiotic data, analyzed with multivariate techniques of statistical analysis, reveal a distinct separation of both the highly polluted and less polluted sampling sites. The innermost part of the lagoon, comprising the industrial complex at Macchiareddu, is exposed to a high load of trace elements which are probably enhanced by their accumulation in the finer sediment fraction. This area reveals lower diversity and higher percentages of abnormalities when compared to the outermost part of the lagoon.

Repeatability and reproducibility of intracellular molar concentration assessed by synchrotron-based x-ray fluorescence microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Merolle, L., E-mail: lucia.merolle@elettra.eu; Gianoncelli, A.; Malucelli, E., E-mail: emil.malucelli@unibo.it

2016-01-28

Elemental analysis of biological sample can give information about content and distribution of elements essential for human life or trace elements whose absence is the cause of abnormal biological function or development. However, biological systems contain an ensemble of cells with heterogeneous chemistry and elemental content; therefore, accurate characterization of samples with high cellular heterogeneity may only be achieved by analyzing single cells. Powerful methods in molecular biology are abundant, among them X-Ray microscopy based on synchrotron light source has gaining increasing attention thanks to its extremely sensitivity. However, reproducibility and repeatability of these measurements is one of the majormore » obstacles in achieving a statistical significance in single cells population analysis. In this study, we compared the elemental content of human colon adenocarcinoma cells obtained by three distinct accesses to synchrotron radiation light.« less

Electron microprobe analysis program for biological specimens: BIOMAP

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edwards, B. F.

1972-01-01

BIOMAP is a Univac 1108 compatible program which facilitates the electron probe microanalysis of biological specimens. Input data are X-ray intensity data from biological samples, the X-ray intensity and composition data from a standard sample and the electron probe operating parameters. Outputs are estimates of the weight percentages of the analyzed elements, the distribution of these estimates for sets of red blood cells and the probabilities for correlation between elemental concentrations. An optional feature statistically estimates the X-ray intensity and residual background of a principal standard relative to a series of standards.

Organic Compounds and Trace Elements in Fish Tissue and Bed Sediment in the Delaware River Basin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware, 1998-2000

USGS Publications Warehouse

Romanok, Kristin M.; Fischer, Jeffrey M.; Riva-Murray, Karen; Brightbill, Robin; Bilger, Michael

2006-01-01

As part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program activities in the Delaware River Basin (DELR), samples of fish tissue from 21 sites and samples of bed sediment from 35 sites were analyzed for a suite of organic compounds and trace elements. The sampling sites, within subbasins ranging in size from 11 to 600 square miles, were selected to represent 5 main land-use categories in the DELR -forest, low-agricultural, agricultural, urban, and mixed use. Samples of both fish tissue and bed sediment were also collected from 4 'large-river' sites that represented drainage areas ranging from 1,300 to 6,800 square miles, areas in which the land is used for a variety of purposes. One or more of the organochlorine compounds-DDT and chlordane metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (total PCBs), and dieldrin- were detected frequently in samples collected over a wide geographic area. One or more of these compounds were detected in fish-tissue samples from 92 percent of the sites and in bed-sediment samples from 82 percent of the sites. Concentrations of total DDT, total chlordanes, total PCBs, and dieldrin in whole white suckers and in bed sediment were significantly related to urban/industrial basin characteristics, such as percentage of urban land use and population density. Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs)-total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total phthalates, and phenols- were detected frequently in bed-sediment samples. All three types of SVOCs were detected in samples from at least one site in each land-use category. The highest detection rates and concentrations typically were in samples from sites in the urban and mixed land-use categories, as well as from the large-river sites. Concentrations of total PAHs and total phthalates in bed-sediment samples were found to be statistically related to percentages of urban land use and to population density in the drainage areas represented by the sampling sites. The samples of fish tissue and bed sediment collected throughout the DELR were analyzed for a large suite of trace elements, but results of the analyses for eight elements-arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, mercury, and zinc- that are considered contaminants of concern are described in this report. One or more of the eight trace elements were detected in samples from every fish tissue and bed-sediment sampling site, and all of the trace elements were detected in samples from 97 percent of the bed-sediment sites. The concentrations of organic compounds and trace elements in the DELR samples were compared to applicable guidelines for the protection of wildlife and other biological organisms. Concentrations of total DDT, total chlordanes, total PCBs, and dieldrin in fish-tissue samples from 14 sites exceeded one or more of the Wildlife Protective Guidelines established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Concentrations of one or more organic compounds in samples from 16 bed-sediment sites exceeded the Threshold Effects Concentrations (TEC) of the Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines, and concentrations of one or more of the eight trace elements in samples from 38 bed-sediment sites exceeded the TEC. (The TEC is the concentration below which adverse biological effects in freshwater ecosystems are expected to be rare.) Concentrations of organic compounds in samples from some bed-sediment sites exceeded the Canadian Probable Effects Concentrations (PEC), and concentrations of trace elements in samples from 18 sites exceeded the PEC. (The PEC is the concentration above which adverse effects to biological organisms are expected to occur frequently). Concentrations of organic compounds and trace elements in samples from the DELR were compared to similar data from other NAWQA study units in the northeastern United States and also data from the Mobile River (Alabama) Basin and the Northern Rockies Intermontane Basin study units. Median concentrations of to

Near-road sampling of PM2. 5, BC, and fine-particle chemical components in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shakya, Kabindra M.; Rupakheti, Maheswar; Shahi, Anima; Maskey, Rejina; Pradhan, Bidya; Panday, Arnico; Puppala, Siva P.; Lawrence, Mark; Peltier, Richard E.

2017-06-01

Semicontinuous PM2. 5 and black carbon (BC) concentrations, and 24 h integrated PM2. 5 filter samples were collected near roadways in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Instruments were carried by a group of volunteer traffic police officers in the vicinity of six major roadway intersections in the Kathmandu Valley across two sampling periods in 2014. Daily PM2. 5 filter samples were analyzed for water-soluble inorganic ions, elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC), and 24 elements. Mean PM2. 5 and BC concentrations were 124.76 µg m-3 and 16.74 µgC m-3 during the drier spring sampling period, and 45.92 µg m-3 and 13.46 µgC m-3 during monsoonal sampling. Despite the lower monsoonal PM2. 5 concentrations, BC and several elements were not significantly lower during the monsoon, which indicates an important contribution of vehicle-related emissions throughout both seasons in this region. During the monsoon, there was an enhanced contribution of chemical species (elements and water-soluble inorganic ions), except secondary inorganic ions, and BC to PM2. 5 (crustal elements: 19 %; heavy metals: 5 %; and BC: 39 %) compared to those in spring (crustal elements: 9 %; heavy metals: 1 %; and BC: 18 %). Silica, calcium, aluminum, and iron were the most abundant elements during both spring and the monsoon, with total concentrations of 12.13 and 8.85 µg m-3, respectively. PM2. 5 and BC showed less spatial variation compared to that for individual chemical species.

Acid-Soluble Internal Capsules for Closed-Face Cassette Elemental Sampling and Analysis of Workplace Air

PubMed Central

Harper, Martin; Ashley, Kevin

2013-01-01

Airborne particles that are collected using closed-face filter cassettes (CFCs), which are used widely in the sampling of workplace aerosols, can deposit in places other than on the filter and thereby may not be included in the ensuing analysis. A technique for ensuring that internal non-filter deposits are included in the analysis is to collect airborne particles within an acid-soluble internal capsule that, following sampling, can be dissolved along with the filter for subsequent elemental analysis. An interlaboratory study (ILS) was carried out to evaluate the use of cellulosic CFC capsule inserts for their suitability in the determination of trace elements in airborne samples. The ILS was performed in accordance with an applicable ASTM International standard practice, ASTM E691, which describes statistical procedures for investigating interlaboratory precision. Performance evaluation materials consisted of prototype cellulose acetate capsules attached to mixed-cellulose ester filters. Batches of capsules were dosed with Pb-containing materials (standard aqueous solutions, and certified reference material soil and paint). Also, aerosol samples containing nine target analyte elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Ni) were generated using a multiport sampler; various concentrations and sampling times were employed to yield samples fortified at desired loading levels. Triplicates of spiked capsules at three different loadings were conveyed to each volunteer laboratory; loading levels were unknown to the participants. The laboratories were asked to prepare the samples by acid dissolution and to analyze aliquots of extracted samples by atomic spectrometry in accordance with applicable ASTM International Standards. Participants were asked to report their results in units of μg of each target element per sample. For the elements investigated, interlaboratory precision and recovery estimates from the participating laboratories demonstrated the utility of the cellulosic capsule inserts for the measurement of sampled trace elements. PMID:23548078

Some thoughts on problems associated with various sampling media used for environmental monitoring

USGS Publications Warehouse

Horowitz, A.J.

1997-01-01

Modern analytical instrumentation is capable of measuring a variety of trace elements at concentrations down into the single or double digit parts-per-trillion (ng l-1) range. This holds for the three most common sample media currently used in environmental monitoring programs: filtered water, whole-water and separated suspended sediment. Unfortunately, current analytical capabilities have exceeded the current capacity to collect both uncontaminated and representative environmental samples. The success of any trace element monitoring program requires that this issue be both understood and addressed. The environmental monitoring of trace elements requires the collection of calendar- and event-based dissolved and suspended sediment samples. There are unique problems associated with the collection and chemical analyses of both types of sample media. Over the past 10 years, reported ambient dissolved trace element concentrations have declined. Generally, these decreases do not reflect better water quality, but rather improvements in the procedures used to collect, process, preserve and analyze these samples without contaminating them during these steps. Further, recent studies have shown that the currently accepted operational definition of dissolved constituents (material passing a 0.45 ??m membrane filter) is inadequat owing to sampling and processing artifacts. The existence of these artifacts raises questions about the generation of accurate, precise and comparable 'dissolved' trace element data. Suspended sediment and associated trace elements can display marked short- and long-term spatial and temporal variability. This implies that spatially representative samples only can be obtained by generating composites using depth- and width-integrated sampling techniques. Additionally, temporal variations have led to the view that the determination of annual trace element fluxes may require nearly constant (e.g., high-frequency) sampling and subsequent chemical analyses. Ultimately, sampling frequency for flux estimates becomes dependent on the time period of concern (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) and the amount of acceptable error associated with these estimates.

Abundances of disk and bulge giants from high-resolution optical spectra. II. O, Mg, Ca, and Ti in the bulge sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jönsson, H.; Ryde, N.; Schultheis, M.; Zoccali, M.

2017-02-01

Context. Determining elemental abundances of bulge stars can, via chemical evolution modeling, help to understand the formation and evolution of the bulge. Recently there have been claims both for and against the bulge having a different [α/Fe] versus [Fe/H] trend as compared to the local thick disk. This could possibly indicate a faster, or at least different, formation timescale of the bulge as compared to the local thick disk. Aims: We aim to determine the abundances of oxygen, magnesium, calcium, and titanium in a sample of 46 bulge K giants, 35 of which have been analyzed for oxygen and magnesium in previous works, and compare this sample to homogeneously determined elemental abundances of a local disk sample of 291 K giants. Methods: We used spectral synthesis to determine both the stellar parameters and elemental abundances of the bulge stars analyzed here. We used the exact same method that we used to analyze the comparison sample of 291 local K giants in Paper I of this series. Results: Compared to the previous analysis of the 35 stars in our sample, we find lower [Mg/Fe] for [Fe/H] >-0.5, and therefore contradict the conclusion about a declining [O/Mg] for increasing [Fe/H]. We instead see a constant [O/Mg] over all the observed [Fe/H] in the bulge. Furthermore, we find no evidence for a different behavior of the alpha-iron trends in the bulge as compared to the local thick disk from our two samples. Note to the reader: following the publication of the corrigendum, the subtitle of the article was corrected on April 6, 2017. "O, Mg, Co, and Ti" has been replaced by "O, Mg, Ca, and Ti".Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile (ESO programs 71.B-0617(A), 073.B-0074(A), and 085.B-0552(A)).

Mercury in Environmental and Biological Samples Using Online Combustion with Sequential Atomic Absorption and Fluorescence Measurements: A Direct Comparison of Two Fundamental Techniques in Spectrometry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cizdziel, James V.

2011-01-01

In this laboratory experiment, students quantitatively determine the concentration of an element (mercury) in an environmental or biological sample while comparing and contrasting the fundamental techniques of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). A mercury analyzer based on sample combustion,…

Differentiating the Bishop ash bed and related tephra layers by elemental-based similarity coefficients of volcanic glass shards using solution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (S-ICP-MS)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Knott, J.R.; Sarna-Wojcicki, A. M.; Montanez, I.P.; Wan, E.

2007-01-01

Volcanic glass samples from the same volcanic center (intra-source) often have a similar major-element composition. Thus, it can be difficult to distinguish between individual tephra layers, particularly when using similarity coefficients calculated from electron microprobe major-element measurements. Minor/trace element concentrations in glass can be determined by solution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (S-ICP-MS), but have not been shown as suitable for use in large tephrochronologic databases. Here, we present minor/trace-element concentrations measured by S-ICP-MS and compare these data by similarity coefficients, the method commonly used in large databases. Trial samples from the Bishop Tuff, the upper and lower tuffs of Glass Mountain and the tuffs of Mesquite Spring suites from eastern California, USA, which have an indistinguishable major-element composition, were analyzed using S-ICP-MS. The resulting minor/trace element similarity coefficients clearly separated the suites of tephra layers and, in most cases, individual tephra layers within each suite. Comparisons with previous instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) elemental measurements were marginally successful. This is important step toward quantitative correlation in large tephrochronologic databases to achieve definitive identification of volcanic glass samples and for high-resolution age determinations. ?? 2007 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA.

[Bioinorganic chemical composition of the lens and methods of its investigation].

PubMed

Avetisov, S E; Novikov, I A; Pakhomova, N A; Motalov, V G

2018-01-01

Bioinorganic chemical composition of the lens of human and experimental animals (cows, dogs, rats, rabbits) have been analyzed in various studies. In most cases, the studies employed different methods to determine the gross (total) composition of chemical elements and their concentrations in the examined samples. Less frequently, they included an assessment of the distribution of chemical elements in the lens and correlation of their concentration with its morphological changes. Chemical elements from all groups (series) of the periodic classification system were discovered in the lens substance. Despite similar investigation methods, different authors obtained contradicting results on the chemical composition of the lens. This article presents data suggesting possible correlation between inorganic chemical elements in the lens substance with the development and formation of lenticular opacities. All currently employed methods are known to only analyze limited number of select chemical elements in the tissues and do not consider the whole range of elements that can be analyzed with existing technology; furthermore, the majority of studies are conducted on the animal model lens. Therefore, it is feasible to continue the development of the chemical microanalysis method by increasing the sensitivity of Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) with the purpose of assessing the gross chemical composition and distribution of the elements in the lens substance, as well as revealing possible correlation between element concentration and morphological changes in the lens.

Comparison of procedures for correction of matrix interferences in the analysis of soils by ICP-OES with CCD detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sadler, D.A.; Sun, F.; Littlejohn, D.

1995-12-31

ICP-OES is a useful technique for multi-element analysis of soils. However, as a number of elements are present in relatively high concentrations, matrix interferences can occur and examples have been widely reported. The availability of CCD detectors has increased the opportunities for rapid multi-element, multi-wave-length determination of elemental concentrations in soils and other environmental samples. As the composition of soils from industrial sites can vary considerably, especially when taken from different pit horizons, procedures are required to assess the extent of interferences and correct the effects, on a simultaneous multi-element basis. In single element analysis, plasma operating conditions can sometimesmore » be varied to minimize or even remove multiplicative interferences. In simultaneous multi-element analysis, the scope for this approach may be limited, depending on the spectrochemical characteristics of the emitting analyte species. Matrix matching, by addition of major sample components to the analyte calibrant solutions, can be used to minimize inaccuracies. However, there are also limitations to this procedure, when the sample composition varies significantly. Multiplicative interference effects can also be assessed by a {open_quotes}single standard addition{close_quotes} of each analyte to the sample solution and the information obtained may be used to correct the analyte concentrations determined directly. Each of these approaches has been evaluated to ascertain the best procedure for multi-element analysis of industrial soils by ICP-OES with CCD detection at multiple wavelengths. Standard reference materials and field samples have been analyzed to illustrate the efficacy of each procedure.« less

Element concentrations in soils and other surficial materials of the conterminous United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shacklette, Hansford T.; Boerngen, Josephine G.

1984-01-01

Samples of soils or other regoliths, taken at a depth of approximately 20 cm form locations about 80 km apart, throughout the conterminous United States, were analyzed for their content of elements. In this manner, 1,318 sampling sites were chosen, and the results of the sample analyses for 50 elements were plotted on maps. The arithmetic and geometric mean, the geometric deviation, and a histogram showing frequencies of analytical values are given for 47 elements. The lower concentrations of some elements (notable, aluminum, barium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and strontium) in most samples of surficial materials from the Eastern United States, and the greater abundance of heavy metals in the same materials of the Western United States, indicates a regional geochemical pattern of the largest scale. The low concentrations of many elements in soils characterize the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Souls of the Pacific Northwest generally have high concentrations of aluminum, cobalt, iron, scandium, and vanadium, but are low in boron. Soils of the Rocky Mountain region tend to have high concentrations of copper, lead, and zinc. High mercury concentrations in surficial materials are characteristic of Gulf Coast sampling sites and the Atlantic coast sites of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. At the State level, Florida has the most striking geochemical pattern by having soils that are low in concentrations of most elements considered in this study. Some smaller patterns of element abundance can be noted, but the degree of confidence in the validity of these patterns decreases as the patterns become less extensive.

Should we treat the ionome as a combination of individual elements, or should we be deriving novel combined traits?

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

It has been more than 10 years since the concept of the ionome, all of the mineral nutrients in a cell tissue or organism, was introduced. In the intervening years, ionomics, high throughput elemental profiling, has been used to analyze over 400,000 samples from at least 7 different organisms. There...

Particle Induced X-Ray Emission experiment using the K150 3.6 MeV proton beam at TAMU Cyclotron Institute

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pajouhafsar, Yasmin; Alis Manso Rodriguez Team; Sherry Yennello Team

2017-09-01

Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) is a non-destructive analytical technique that is used for various tasks, such as elemental composition. The x-rays are emitted when electrons transition from higher to lower energy levels, causing vacancies in the atom's electron configuration. The overall goals of this research are to successfully set up a PIXE experiment and to obtain elemental concentrations for various samples, using the K150 proton beam in the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University. The x-rays produced are unique to each element and analyzed with reference to their known energies. The setup consists of 3 different detectors, providing a wide range of energies: XR-100T CdTe γ/X-Ray, XR-100T/CR Si and XR-100SDD. Accelerating 3.6 MeV protons from the K150 and using PIXE, we determine concentrations from the NaCl samples provided by the Chemical Engineering Department. The concentrations for each element found in the NaCl thin films are obtained and analyzed through the software, GUPIXWIN. DOE Grant (DE-FG02-93ER40773) and Welch Foundation (A-1266).

Guidelines for collecting and processing samples of stream bed sediment for analysis of trace elements and organic contaminants for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shelton, Larry R.; Capel, Paul D.

1994-01-01

A major component of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment program is to assess the occurrence and distribution of trace elements and organic contaminants in streams. The first phase of the strategy for the assessment is to analyze samples of bed sediments from depositional zones. Fine-grained particles deposited in these zones are natural accumulators of trace elements and hydrophobic organic compounds. For the information to be comparable among studies in many different parts of the Nation, strategies for selecting stream sites and depositional zones are critical. Fine-grained surficial sediments are obtained from several depositional zones within a stream reach and composited to yield a sample representing average conditions. Sample collection and processing must be done consistently and by procedures specifically designed to separate the fine material into fractions that yield uncontaminated samples for trace-level analytes in the laboratory. Special coring samplers and other instruments made of Teflon are used for collection. Samples are processed through a 2.0-millimeter stainless-steel mesh sieve for organic contaminate analysis and a 63-micrometer nylon-cloth sieve for trace-element analysis. Quality assurance is maintained by strict collection and processing procedures, duplicate samplings, and a rigid cleaning procedure.

Geochemical characteristics of rare earth elements in different types of soil: A chemometric approach.

PubMed

Khan, Aysha Masood; Behkami, Shima; Yusoff, Ismail; Md Zain, Sharifuddin Bin; Bakar, Nor Kartini Abu; Bakar, Ahmad Farid Abu; Alias, Yatimah

2017-10-01

Rare earth elements (REEs) are becoming significant due to their huge applications in many industries, large-scale mining and refining activities. Increasing usage of such metals pose negative environmental impacts. In this research ICP-MS has been used to analyze soil samples collected from former ex-mining areas in the depths of 0-20 cm, 21-40 cm, and 41-60 cm of residential, mining, natural, and industrial areas of Perak. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that soil samples taken from different mining, industrial, residential, and natural areas are separated into four clusters. It was observed that REEs were abundant in most of the samples from mining areas. Concentration of the rare elements decrease in general as we move from surface soil to deeper soils. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Trace element geochemistry of volcanic gases and particles from 1983-1984 eruptive episodes of Kilauea Volcano

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crowe, Bruce M.; Finnegan, David L.; Zoller, William H.; Boynton, William V.

1987-12-01

Compositional data have been obtained for volcanic gases and particles collected from fume emitted at the Pu'u O'o vent on the east rift zone of Kilauea volcano. The samples were collected by pumping fume through a filter pack system consisting of a front stage particulate filter followed by four base-treated filters (7LiOH). Particles and condensed phases are trapped on the particulate filter, and acidic gases are collected on the treated filters. The filters are analyzed for 30 elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Fume samples were collected from the Pu'u O'o vent for two eruptive episodes: (1) 7 days after episode 11 (cooling vent samples) and (2) the waning stage of episode 13 (active vent samples). Additional samples were collected by aircraft from the gas plume released during the lava fountaining phase of episode 17 (aircraft samples). Element concentrations in the vent gases were > 104 μg m-3 for S, Cl, and F. Enrichment factors (EFs) for the volcanic fume versus the source magma were calculated using the volatile element Br as the reference element for normalization and the U.S. Geological Survey standard BHVO-1 as the magma standard. This removes the ash dilution effect obtained by using an ash constituent (Al, Sc, or Mg) as the reference element. Bromine-normalized EFs (× 105) range from 101 to 102 for Na, K, and Cu; 102 to 105 for Zn, W, Sb, In, Ir, Ag, F, and As; and > 105 for Au, Cd, Re, Cl, Se, and S. The highest enrichment factors are for aircraft samples collected during the most gas-rich phase of an eruption cycle. Metal and volatile-element data form two groups: (1) elements showing little or no variation in abundance ratios with sample type (group 1: Cl, Br, and Re) and (2) elements that show significant variation in abundance ratios by sample type (group 2: Zn, W, Sb, In, Ir, Au, and Cd). Bivariate plots of elements of the first group versus elements of the second group separate by sample type. The separation corresponds to samples collected during eruptive activity versus samples collected during repose periods. Monitoring trace metal ratios in volcanic fume could provide an additional tool for predicting volcanic eruptions. The F/Cl ratio of cooling vent samples is higher than those of active vent or aircraft samples, and the ratio is inversely correlated with EFs for most volatile metals.

Status of the Monte Carlo library least-squares (MCLLS) approach for non-linear radiation analyzer problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gardner, Robin P.; Xu, Libai

2009-10-01

The Center for Engineering Applications of Radioisotopes (CEAR) has been working for over a decade on the Monte Carlo library least-squares (MCLLS) approach for treating non-linear radiation analyzer problems including: (1) prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) for bulk analysis, (2) energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analyzers, and (3) carbon/oxygen tool analysis in oil well logging. This approach essentially consists of using Monte Carlo simulation to generate the libraries of all the elements to be analyzed plus any other required background libraries. These libraries are then used in the linear library least-squares (LLS) approach with unknown sample spectra to analyze for all elements in the sample. Iterations of this are used until the LLS values agree with the composition used to generate the libraries. The current status of the methods (and topics) necessary to implement the MCLLS approach is reported. This includes: (1) the Monte Carlo codes such as CEARXRF, CEARCPG, and CEARCO for forward generation of the necessary elemental library spectra for the LLS calculation for X-ray fluorescence, neutron capture prompt gamma-ray analyzers, and carbon/oxygen tools; (2) the correction of spectral pulse pile-up (PPU) distortion by Monte Carlo simulation with the code CEARIPPU; (3) generation of detector response functions (DRF) for detectors with linear and non-linear responses for Monte Carlo simulation of pulse-height spectra; and (4) the use of the differential operator (DO) technique to make the necessary iterations for non-linear responses practical. In addition to commonly analyzed single spectra, coincidence spectra or even two-dimensional (2-D) coincidence spectra can also be used in the MCLLS approach and may provide more accurate results.

ABSORPTION ANALYZER

DOEpatents

Brooksbank, W.A. Jr.; Leddicotte, G.W.; Strain, J.E.; Hendon, H.H. Jr.

1961-11-14

A means was developed for continuously computing and indicating the isotopic assay of a process solution and for automatically controlling the process output of isotope separation equipment to provide a continuous output of the desired isotopic ratio. A counter tube is surrounded with a sample to be analyzed so that the tube is exactly in the center of the sample. A source of fast neutrons is provided and is spaced from the sample. The neutrons from the source are thermalized by causing them to pass through a neutron moderator, and the neutrons are allowed to diffuse radially through the sample to actuate the counter. A reference counter in a known sample of pure solvent is also actuated by the thermal neutrons from the neutron source. The number of neutrons which actuate the detectors is a function of a concentration of the elements in solution and their neutron absorption cross sections. The pulses produced by the detectors responsive to each neu tron passing therethrough are amplified and counted. The respective times required to accumulate a selected number of counts are measured by associated timing devices. The concentration of a particular element in solution may be determined by utilizing the following relation: T2/Ti = BCR, where B is a constant proportional to the absorption cross sections, T2 is the time of count collection for the unknown solution, Ti is the time of count collection for the pure solvent, R is the isotopic ratlo, and C is the molar concentration of the element to be determined. Knowing the slope constant B for any element and when the chemical concentration is known, the isotopic concentration may be readily determined, and conversely when the isotopic ratio is known, the chemical concentrations may be determined. (AEC)

Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Arminto NTMS quadrangle, Wyoming, including concentrations of forty-three additional elements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Morgan, T.L.

1979-11-01

During the summers of 1976 and 1977, 570 water and 1249 sediment samples were collected from 1517 locations within the 18,000-km/sup 2/ area of the Arminto NTMS quadrangle of central Wyoming. Water samples were collected from wells, springs, streams, and artifical ponds; sediment samples were collected from wet and dry streams, springs, and wet and dry ponds. All water samples were analyzed for 13 elements, including uranium, and each sediment sample was analyzed for 43 elements, including uranium and thorium. Uranium concentrations in water samples range from below the detection limit to 84.60 parts per billion (ppb) with a meanmore » of 4.32 ppb. All water sample types except pond water samples were considered as a single population in interpreting the data. Pond water samples were excluded due to possible concentration of uranium by evaporation. Most of the water samples containing greater than 20 ppb uranium grouped into six clusters that indicate possible areas of interest for further investigation. One cluster is associated with the Pumpkin Buttes District, and two others are near the Kaycee and Mayoworth areas of uranium mineralization. The largest cluster is located on the west side of the Powder River Basin. One cluster is located in the central Big Horn Basin and another is in the Wind River Basin; both are in areas underlain by favorable host units. Uranium concentrations in sediment samples range from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 115.50 ppm with a mean of 3.50 ppm. Two clusters of sediment samples over 7 ppm were delineated. The first, containing the two highest-concentration samples, corresponds with the Copper Mountain District. Many of the high uranium concentrations in samples in this cluster may be due to contamination from mining or prospecting activity upstream from the sample sites. The second cluster encompasses a wide area in the Wind River Basin along the southern boundary of the quadrangle.« less

Elemental composition of some essential cations in human ocular tissue

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Panessa-Warren, B.J.; Kraner, H.W.; Warren, J.B.

1983-01-01

To obtain data on the baseline elemental content in normal adult sensory retina, RPE and iris, normal non-diabetic eyes were analyzed and these results were used for comparison to similarly prepared samples from diabetic donor eyes. To determine if the concentrations of the cations, Ca, Ba and Zn were altered by the age, alimentation and exposure to light of the donor, tissue from children (from 25 weeks gestation to 8-1/2 years old) was also analyzed by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, proton induced x-ray emission spectroscopy, and light and electron (scanning and transmission) microscopy.

Soil Rock Analyzer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1985-01-01

A redesigned version of a soil/rock analyzer developed by Martin Marietta under a Langley Research Center contract is being marketed by Aurora Tech, Inc. Known as the Aurora ATX-100, it has self-contained power, an oscilloscope, a liquid crystal readout, and a multichannel spectrum analyzer. It measures energy emissions to determine what elements in what percentages a sample contains. It is lightweight and may be used for mineral exploration, pollution monitoring, etc.

Discrimination of the Language Behavior of College- and Middle-Aged Encoders.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

And Others; Gorcyca, Diane Atkinson

1979-01-01

Language samples of college- and middle-aged respondents were analyzed to determine if the language use of college students is appropriate for generalizations to other elements of the population. (PD)

Environmental biomonitoring of essential and toxic elements in human scalp hair using accelerated microwave-assisted sample digestion and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy.

PubMed

Kumakli, Hope; Duncan, A'ja V; McDaniel, Kiara; Mehari, Tsdale F; Stephenson, Jamira; Maple, Lareisha; Crawford, Zaria; Macemore, Calvin L; Babyak, Carol M; Fakayode, Sayo O

2017-05-01

Human scalp hair samples were collected and used to assess exposure to toxic elements and essential elements in the state of North Carolina, USA using accelerated microwave assisted acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The figures-of-merit of the ICP-OES were appropriate for elemental analysis in scalp hair with detection limits as low as 0.0001 mg/L for Cd, good linearity (R 2  > 0.9978), and percent recoveries that ranged from 96 to 106% for laboratory-fortified-blanks and 88-112% for sample spike recovery study. The concentrations of essential elements in scalp hair were larger than those of toxic elements, with Ca having the highest average concentration (3080 μg/g, s = 14,500, n = 194). Some of the maximum concentrations observed for As (65 μg/g), Ni (331 μg/g), Cd (2.96 μg/g), and Cr (84.6 μg/g) in individual samples were concerning, however. Samples were statistically analyzed to determine the influence of race, gender, smoking habits, or age on the elemental concentrations in scalp hair. Higher concentrations of essential elements were observed in the scalp hair of Caucasians, females, and non-smokers, and the differences were often significant at a 90% confidence level. Several pairs of essential elements, for example Ca-K, Ca-Mg, and Ca-Zn, were strongly correlated in Caucasian hair but uncorrelated in African-American hair. Similarly, essential elements were strongly correlated in female hair but weakly correlated in male hair. Toxic element pairs (As-Cd, As-Se, Pb-As, and Se-Cd) were strongly correlated in the hair of smokers but uncorrelated in that of non-smokers, suggesting that cigarette smoke is a common source of toxic elements in humans. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Leaching of different elements from subbase layers of alternative aggregates in pavement constructions.

PubMed

Flyhammar, P; Bendz, D

2006-09-01

The objective of this study was to analyze the accumulated effects of leaching in two test roads were municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash and aggregate from a railway embankment, respectively, were used as subbase aggregates. Solid samples from the subbase and the subgrade were collected in trenches, which were excavated perpendicular to the road extension. The samples were analyzed with respect to pH, water content, electrical conductivity and extractable fractions of macro and trace constituents. To conclude, spatial distribution patterns of different constituents in subbase and subgrade layers confirms the existence of two major transport processes in a road with permeable shoulders: diffusion underneath surface asphalt layers driven by a concentration gradient directed horizontally towards the shoulder of the road where the dissolved elements are carried away by advection.

Bioaccessibility assessment of toxic and essential elements in produced pulses, Bahia, Brazil.

PubMed

Santos, Wagna Piler Carvalho; Ribeiro, Nubia Moura; Santos, Daniele Cristina Muniz Batista; Korn, Maria Graças Andrade; Lopes, Mariângela Vieira

2018-02-01

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of heat treatment on the bioaccessibility of major (K, Ca, Mg, P) and trace elements (As, Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Sn, and Zn) in three different pulse species: Vigna unguiculata L. Walp (cowpea beans), Cajanus cajan L. (pigeon pea) and Lablab purpureus L. Sweet (mangalo). Analyte concentrations were determined in the samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results showed that thermal processing can affect the concentrations of the elements investigated in pulse samples. The influence of the heat treatment can range between legume species and chemical elements, as well as with the type of heat treatment, dry, wet, conductive heating and using microwaves. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Trace elemental analysis of school chalk using energy dispersive X-ray florescence spectroscopy (ED-XRF)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maruthi, Y. A.; Das, N. Lakshmana; Ramprasad, S.; Ram, S. S.; Sudarshan, M.

2015-08-01

The present studies focus the quantitative analysis of elements in school chalk to ensure the safety of its use. The elements like Calcium (Ca), Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Silicon (Si) and Chromium (Cr) were analyzed from settled chalk dust samples collected from five classrooms (CD-1) and also from another set of unused chalk samples collected from local market (CD-2) using Energy Dispersive X-Ray florescence(ED-XRF) spectroscopy. Presence of these elements in significant concentrations in school chalk confirmed that, it is an irritant and occupational hazard. It is suggested to use protective equipments like filtered mask for mouth, nose and chalk holders. This study also suggested using the advanced mode of techniques like Digital boards, marker boards and power point presentations to mitigate the occupational hazard for classroom chalk

Micro-scale elemental partition in tissues of the aquatic plant Lemna minor L. exposed to highway drainage water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendes Godinho, R.; Raimundo, J.; Vale, C.; Anes, B.; Brito, P.; Alves, L. C.; Pinheiro, T.

2013-07-01

In the scope of a monitoring program to assess the environmental impact of automobile traffic over one main bridge in Lisbon, both water and duckweed (Lemna minor L.) were sampled from the road drainage tanks and analyzed for chemical elements. Plants uptake Cr, Mn, Cu, and Zn metals from rain water draining the bridge road. Nuclear microprobe elemental maps of cryosections of L. minor tissues showed that incorporated elements were internalized in fronds of the plant. This approach at micrometer level allows a better knowledge of the elemental tissue partitioning in this biomonitor organism.

Siderophile and chalcophile element abundances in oceanic basalts, Pb isotope evolution and growth of the earth's core

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newsom, H. E.; White, W. M.; Jochum, K. P.; Hofmann, A. W.

1986-01-01

The hypothesis that the mantle Pb isotope ratios reflect continued extraction of Pb into the earth's core over geologic time is evaluated by studying the depeletion of chalcophile and siderophile elements in the mantle. Oceanic basalt samples are analyzed in order to determine the Pb, Sr, and Nd isotropic compositions and the abundances of siderophile and chalcophile elements and incompatible lithophile elements. The data reveal that there is no systematic variation of siderophile or chalcophile element abundances relative to abundances of lithophile elements and the Pb/Ce ratio of the mantle is constant. It is suggested that the crust formation involves nonmagmatic and magmatic processes.

The influence of different types of pesticides on elemental profiles of some fruit trees: Apple and plum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gheboianu, Anca Irina; Setnescu, Tanta; Setnescu, Radu; Culicov, Otilia; Zinicovscaia, Inga

2017-12-01

The aim of this study is to evaluate the elemental content of various samples from apple and plum orchard - located in Dambovita and Arges Counties - (soil, bark and leaves) and to characterize the influence of different types of pesticides commonly used in orchards. For this purpose, the effect of pesticide/ natural fertilizer couples was studied by characterization of treated and untreated soil composition. Heavy metals were also used as tracers for pesticides concentration monitoring, aiming to get information about their overall concentration and eventually, their critical accumulation into some parts of the studied plants (which shall not exceed the limits regulated by Romanian law and UE directives for pesticides use in fruit-grower). Solid samples were analyzed by wavelength dispersion X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) and instrumental nuclear activation methods (INAA). Moreover, soil properties (pH and electrical conductivity) were determined in order to characterize agricultural soils and to analyze relationships between heavy metal contents and soil properties. Multivariate data analysis was performed to identify a common source for heavy metals. Correlations between the concentrations of heavy metals in the analyzed samples and pesticides used in these areas were found.

Standard-less analysis of Zircaloy clad samples by an instrumental neutron activation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acharya, R.; Nair, A. G. C.; Reddy, A. V. R.; Goswami, A.

2004-03-01

A non-destructive method for analysis of irregular shape and size samples of Zircaloy has been developed using the recently standardized k0-based internal mono standard instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The samples of Zircaloy-2 and -4 tubes, used as fuel cladding in Indian boiling water reactors (BWR) and pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR), respectively, have been analyzed. Samples weighing in the range of a few tens of grams were irradiated in the thermal column of Apsara reactor to minimize neutron flux perturbations and high radiation dose. The method utilizes in situ relative detection efficiency using the γ-rays of selected activation products in the sample for overcoming γ-ray self-attenuation. Since the major and minor constituents (Zr, Sn, Fe, Cr and/or Ni) in these samples were amenable to NAA, the absolute concentrations of all the elements were determined using mass balance instead of using the concentration of the internal mono standard. Concentrations were also determined in a smaller size Zircaloy-4 sample by irradiating in the core position of the reactor to validate the present methodology. The results were compared with literature specifications and were found to be satisfactory. Values of sensitivities and detection limits have been evaluated for the elements analyzed.

PROTON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS OF TRACE-ELEMENT VARIATIONS IN VITRINITES IN THE SAME AND DIFFERENT COAL BEDS.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Minkin, J.A.; Chao, E.C.T.; Blank, Herma; Dulong, F.T.

1987-01-01

The PIXE (proton-induced X-ray emission) microprobe can be used for nondestructive, in-situ analyses of areas as small as those analyzed by the electron microprobe, and has a sensitivity of detection as much as two orders of magnitude better than the electron microprobe. Preliminary studies demonstrated that PIXE provides a capability for quantitative determination of elemental concentrations in individual coal maceral grains with a detection limit of 1-10 ppm for most elements analyzed. Encouraged by the earlier results, we carried out the analyses reported below to examine trace element variations laterally (over a km range) as well as vertically (cm to m) in the I and J coal beds in the Upper Cretaceous Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale in central Utah, and to compare the data with the data from two samples of eastern coals of Pennsylvanian age.

Standard Reference Line Combined with One-Point Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) to Quantitatively Analyze Stainless and Heat Resistant Steel.

PubMed

Fu, Hongbo; Wang, Huadong; Jia, Junwei; Ni, Zhibo; Dong, Fengzhong

2018-01-01

Due to the influence of major elements' self-absorption, scarce observable spectral lines of trace elements, and relative efficiency correction of experimental system, accurate quantitative analysis with calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) is in fact not easy. In order to overcome these difficulties, standard reference line (SRL) combined with one-point calibration (OPC) is used to analyze six elements in three stainless-steel and five heat-resistant steel samples. The Stark broadening and Saha - Boltzmann plot of Fe are used to calculate the electron density and the plasma temperature, respectively. In the present work, we tested the original SRL method, the SRL with the OPC method, and intercept with the OPC method. The final calculation results show that the latter two methods can effectively improve the overall accuracy of quantitative analysis and the detection limits of trace elements.

Boundary element analysis of post-tensioned slabs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rashed, Youssef F.

2015-06-01

In this paper, the boundary element method is applied to carry out the structural analysis of post-tensioned flat slabs. The shear-deformable plate-bending model is employed. The effect of the pre-stressing cables is taken into account via the equivalent load method. The formulation is automated using a computer program, which uses quadratic boundary elements. Verification samples are presented, and finally a practical application is analyzed where results are compared against those obtained from the finite element method. The proposed method is efficient in terms of computer storage and processing time as well as the ease in data input and modifications.

Geochemistry of minor elements in the Monterey Formation, California; seawater chemistry of deposition

USGS Publications Warehouse

Piper, D.Z.; Isaacs, C.M.

1995-01-01

Approximately 24 samples of the Monterey Formation, Southern California, have been analyzed for their major-element oxide and minor-element content. These analyses allow identification of a detrital fraction, composed of terrigenous quartz, clay minerals, and other Al silicate minerals, and a marine fraction, composed of biogenic silica, calcite, dolomite, organic matter, apatite, and minor amounts of pyrite. The minor-element contents in the marine fraction alone are interpreted to have required, at the time of deposition, a high level of primary productivity in the photic zone and denitrifying bacterial respiration in the bottom water.

Gamma Spectroscopy by Artificial Neural Network Coupled with MCNP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahiner, Huseyin

While neutron activation analysis is widely used in many areas, sensitivity of the analysis depends on how the analysis is conducted. Even though the sensitivity of the techniques carries error, compared to chemical analysis, its range is in parts per million or sometimes billion. Due to this sensitivity, the use of neutron activation analysis becomes important when analyzing bio-samples. Artificial neural network is an attractive technique for complex systems. Although there are neural network applications on spectral analysis, training by simulated data to analyze experimental data has not been made. This study offers an improvement on spectral analysis and optimization on neural network for the purpose. The work considers five elements that are considered as trace elements for bio-samples. However, the system is not limited to five elements. The only limitation of the study comes from data library availability on MCNP. A perceptron network was employed to identify five elements from gamma spectra. In quantitative analysis, better results were obtained when the neural fitting tool in MATLAB was used. As a training function, Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was used with 23 neurons in the hidden layer with 259 gamma spectra in the input. Because the interest of the study deals with five elements, five neurons representing peak counts of five isotopes in the input layer were used. Five output neurons revealed mass information of these elements from irradiated kidney stones. Results showing max error of 17.9% in APA, 24.9% in UA, 28.2% in COM, 27.9% in STRU type showed the success of neural network approach in analyzing gamma spectra. This high error was attributed to Zn that has a very long decay half-life compared to the other elements. The simulation and experiments were made under certain experimental setup (3 hours irradiation, 96 hours decay time, 8 hours counting time). Nevertheless, the approach is subject to be generalized for different setups.

Particle-associated contaminants in street dust, parking lot dust, soil, lake-bottom sediment, and suspended and streambed sediment, Lake Como and Fosdic Lake watersheds, Fort Worth, Texas, 2004

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, Jennifer T.; Van Metre, Peter C.; Werth, Charles J.; Yang, Yanning

2006-01-01

A previous study by the U.S. Geological Survey of impaired water bodies in Fort Worth, Texas, reported elevated but variable concentrations of particle-associated contaminants (PACs) comprising chlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and trace elements in suspended and bed sediment of lakes and streams affected by urban land use. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Fort Worth, collected additional samples during October 2004 to investigate sources of PACs in the watersheds of two impaired lakes: Lake Como and Fosdic Lake. Source materials and aquatic sediment were sampled and analyzed for PACs. Source materials sampled consisted of street dust and soil from areas with residential and commercial land use and parking lot dust from sealed and unsealed parking lots. Aquatic sediment sampled consisted of bottom-sediment cores from the two lakes and suspended and streambed sediment from the influent stream of each lake. Samples were analyzed for chlorinated hydrocarbons (organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, major and trace elements, organic carbon, grain size, and radionuclides.

Multi-element sewer slime impact pattern--a quantitative characteristic enabling identification of the source of heavy metal discharges into sewer systems.

PubMed

Kintrup, J; Wünsch, G

2001-11-01

The capability of sewer slime to accumulate heavy metals from municipal wastewater can be exploited to identify the sources of sewage sludge pollution. Former investigations of sewer slime looked for a few elements only and could, therefore, not account for deviations of the enrichment efficiency of the slime or for irregularities from sampling. Results of ICP-MS multi element determinations were analyzed by multivariate statistical methods. A new dimensionless characteristic "sewer slime impact" is proposed, which is zero for unloaded samples. Patterns expressed in this data format specifically extract the information required to identify the type of pollution and polluter quicker and with less effort and cost than hitherto.

Survey of chemical contaminants in the Hanalei River, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, 2001

USGS Publications Warehouse

Orazio, Carl E.; May, Thomas W.; Gale, Robert W.; Meadows, John C.; Brumbaugh, William G.; Echols, Kathy R.; Steiner, William W.M.; Berg, Carl J.

2007-01-01

The Hanalei River on the island of Kaua'i in Hawai'i was designated an American Heritage River in 1998, providing special attention to natural resource protection, economic revitalization, and historic and cultural preservation. Agricultural, urban, and tourism-related activities are potential sources of contamination within the Hanalei River watershed. The objective of this study was to measure certain persistent organic chemicals and elements in the Hanalei River.During a relatively low-flow period in December of 2001, samples of native Akupa sleeper fish (Eleotris sandwicensis), freshwater Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea), giant mud crab (Scylla serrata), surface water, and stream bed sediment were collected from a lower estuarine reach of the river near its mouth at Hanalei Bay and from an upper reach at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. Samples were analyzed for residues of urban and agricultural chemicals including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and elements (including mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and selenium). Organic contaminants were extracted from the samples with solvent, enriched, and then analyzed by gas chromatographic analysis with electron capture or mass spectrometric detection. Samples were acid-digested for semi-quantitative analysis for elements by inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and for quantitative analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls in biota, surface water, and bed sediment sampled from the Hanalei River ranged from nondetectable to very low levels. Polychlorinated biphenyls were below detection in all samples. Dieldrin, the only compound detected in the water samples, was present at very low concentrations of 1-2 nanograms per liter. Akupa sleeper fish and giant mud crabs from the lower reach ranged from 1 to 5 nanograms per gram (wet weight) dieldrin and from less than 0.3 to 2.1 nanograms per gram total chlordane. Concentrations of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the lower reach bed sediments ranged from less than 1 to 190 nanograms per gram (dry weight). Relative concentrations (patterns) of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in one portion of a sediment sample indicated combustion sources. Concentrations of elements in the surface water, biota, and sediment samples were below toxicity thresholds of ecological concern. In summary, concentrations of the organic contaminants and elements targeted by this study of the Hanalei River in 2001 were below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency probable adverse effects levels for aquatic organisms.

Identifying Dust Sources by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engelbrecht, Johann P.

2010-05-01

This presentation is on the source attribution by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) of aerosol samples collected in Iraq, a major source of mineral dust in the Middle East. Globally transported mineral dust from North Africa, the Middle East, China, and elsewhere are routinely being sampled at high elevation monitoring sites such as those on the Canary Islands and Hawaii, and many ambient monitoring sites worldwide. Chemical results of these filter samples reflect differences in sources impacting at each site, further complicated by the regional geomorphology and meteorology. Trace elements, isotopes, elemental ratios, and mineralogy are generally being used to pinpoint geological source regions of natural and anthropogenic dusts. A receptor site is seldom impacted by only one source at a time. Dust palls are continually being modified by added dust from soils across which they migrate, also by particle segregation in the dust plume, and precipitation of the coarser particles. The result is that dust is a mixture, with contributions from different sources, each with a different chemical and mineralogical signature. PMF is a non-negative factorization procedure that produces only positive factor scores and loadings, in contrast to classical factor analysis (FA) and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). PMF enables us to resolve factors (chemical signatures) for source types contributing to the ambient chemical data set, and also models the source-type contributions to individual ambient samples. The latter can often be related to specific source regions. PMF was applied separately to two ambient data sets collected in Iraq in 2006, the one on Teflon membrane filters and the other on quartz fiber. Each of the filter types were previously analyzed for different chemical species: Teflon membrane for elements, by XRF and ICP-MS, while quartz fiber filters were analyzed for ions and carbon. [Engelbrecht et al. 2009] A set of 392 Teflon filter samples analyzed for 25 elemental species was modeled by PMF. A five factor solution identified three soil factors, a silicate soil, limestone soil, and a gypsum soil, as well as a salt factor and an anthropogenic metal factor. Similarly, a set of 362 quartz filter samples analyzed for 10 selected chemical species was modeled by PMF. A five factor solution provided a limestone-gypsum soil, diesel combustion, secondary ammonium sulfate, salt and agricultural-burnpit combustion source type. Examples of time series plots of PMF factor contributions for each of six sampling sites (Balad, Baghdad, Tallil, Tikrit, Taji, and Al Asad) will be discussed. Engelbrecht , J. P., McDonald, E. V., Gillies, J. A., Jayanty, R. K. M., Casuccio, G., and Gertler, A. W., 2009, Characterizing mineral dusts and other aerosols from the Middle East - Part 1: Ambient sampling: Inhalation Toxicology, v. 21, p. 297-326.

Chemical analyses of stream sediment in the Tar Creek basin of the Picher mining area, northeast Oklahoma

USGS Publications Warehouse

Parkhurst, David L.; Doughten, Michael; Hearn,, Paul P.

1988-01-01

Chemical analyses are presented for 47 sediment samples from the Tar Creek drainage in the Picher mining area of northeast Oklahoma. The samples were taken in December 1983, June 1984, and June 1985. All of the samples were taken downstream from mine-water discharge points of abandoned lead and zinc mines. The 34 samples taken in December 1983 and June 1984 were analyzed semiquantitatively by emission spectrography for 64 elements and quantitatively for cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, sulfur, zinc, and organic carbon. The 13 samples taken in June 1985 were analyzed quantitatively for aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, lead, sulfur, silicon, titanium, vanadium, zinc, and organic carbon.

[High Precision Identification of Igneous Rock Lithology by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy].

PubMed

Wang, Chao; Zhang, Wei-gang; Yan, Zhi-quan

2015-09-01

In the field of petroleum exploration, lithology identification of finely cuttings sample, especially high precision identification of igneous rock with similar property, has become one of the geological problems. In order to solve this problem, a new method is proposed based on element analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Total Alkali versus Silica (TAS) diagram. Using independent LIBS system, factors influencing spectral signal, such as pulse energy, acquisition time delay, spectrum acquisition method and pre-ablation are researched through contrast experiments systematically. The best analysis conditions of igneous rock are determined: pulse energy is 50 mJ, acquisition time delay is 2 μs, the analysis result is integral average of 20 different points of sample's surface, and pre-ablation has been proved not suitable for igneous rock sample by experiment. The repeatability of spectral data is improved effectively. Characteristic lines of 7 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Fe) commonly used for lithology identification of igneous rock are determined, and igneous rock samples of different lithology are analyzed and compared. Calibration curves of Na, K, Si are generated by using national standard series of rock samples, and all the linearly dependent coefficients are greater than 0.9. The accuracy of quantitative analysis is investigated by national standard samples. Element content of igneous rock is analyzed quantitatively by calibration curve, and its lithology is identified accurately by the method of TAS diagram, whose accuracy rate is 90.7%. The study indicates that LIBS can effectively achieve the high precision identification of the lithology of igneous rock.

Geographic patterns of elemental deposition in the Aegean region of Turkey indicated by the lichen, Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr.

PubMed

Yenisoy-Karakaş, S; Tuncel, S G

2004-08-15

Lichen samples from different parts of the world have been known to accumulate elements to a greater degree than higher plants, if they are exposed to these elements from the atmosphere or from water and sediments. It has been hypothesized that lichens can be used to monitor air pollution around point and area emission sources. Local variation (variation in substrate, age and morphology of lichen samples) of element concentrations would not be large enough to affect the concentration patterns in large areas. We tested this hypothesis in the Aegean region of Turkey, which is very urbanized and industrialized. No such study has been conducted before in this part of the country. A total of 234 samples of the lichen Xanthoria parietina were collected from a 51,800-km2 area. Samples were washed and analyzed by INAA and ICP-AES for 35 elements. The range of the concentrations for most of the elements on a local scale was an order of magnitude lower than for the element concentrations on a regional scale. The mean local coefficient of variance (CV) was found to be 15, providing that the local variation did not affect the concentration of elements in the sampling region. According to cluster analysis, 8 (As, Hg, Pb, Sb, Fe, Mn, Na and K) elements are indicative of important local pollution locations and their zone of impact in the region. By mapping the concentrations of eight indicative elements in lichen Xanthoria parietina of the Aegean region, it was possible to relate deposition to the existence of known sources of pollution in certain areas. Location of pollution sources such as iron-steel plants, and coal burning in the cities, industrial activity and two important coal-fired power plants generally corresponded with locations of highest element accumulations in the lichens.

Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Newcastle NTMS quadrangle, Wyoming, including concentrations of forty-two additional elements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goff, S.J.; Sandoval, W.F.; Gallimore, D.L.

1980-06-01

During the summer and fall of 1977, 533 water and 1226 sediment samples were collected from 1740 locations within the 18,000 km/sup 2/ area of the Newcastle quadrangle, Wyoming. Water samples were collected from wells and springs; sediment samples were collected from stream channels and from springs. Each water sample was analyzed for uranium, and each sediment sample was analyzed for 43 elements, including uranium and thorium. Uranium concentrations in water samples range from below the detection limit of 0.02 ppB to 702.26 ppB and have a median of 1.73 ppB and a mean of 11.76 ppB. Water samples containingmore » high uranium concentrations (>20 ppB) generally are associated with known uranium mining activity or units known to be uranium bearing. About one-third of the water samples containing high uranium concentrations were collected from locations within the Pumpkin Buttes and Turnercrest-Ross Districts. Nearly half of the water samples containing high uranium concentrations were collected from locations just west of the Monument Hill and Highland Flats-Box Creek Districts. Similar anomalous uranium concentrations in this region have been reported updip from Exxon's Highland uranium deposits. High uranium concentrations were also found associated with the Lance Creek-Old Woman Anticline District.« less

The effect of membrane filtration on dissolved trace element concentrations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Horowitz, A.J.; Lum, K.R.; Garbarino, J.R.; Hall, G.E.M.; Lemieux, C.; Demas, C.R.

1996-01-01

The almost universally accepted operational definition for dissolved constituents is based on processing whole-water samples through a 0.45-??m membrane filter. Results from field and laboratory experiments indicate that a number of factors associated with filtration, other than just pore size (e.g., diameter, manufacturer, volume of sample processed, amount of suspended sediment in the sample), can produce substantial variations in the 'dissolved' concentrations of such elements as Fe, Al, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, and Ni. These variations result from the inclusion/exclusion of colloidally- associated trace elements. Thus, 'dissolved' concentrations quantitated by analyzing filtrates generated by processing whole-water through similar pore- sized membrane filters may not be equal/comparable. As such, simple filtration through a 0.45-??m membrane filter may no longer represent an acceptable operational definition for dissolved chemical constituents. This conclusion may have important implications for environmental studies and regulatory agencies.

SEDIMENT-HOSTED PRECIOUS METAL DEPOSITS.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bagby, W.C.; Pickthorn, W.J.; Goldfarb, R.; Hill, R.A.

1984-01-01

The Dee mine is a sediment-hosted, disseminated gold deposit in the Roberts Mountains allochthon of north central Nevada. Soil samples were collected from the C-horizon in undisturbed areas over the deposit in order to investigate the usefulness of soil geochemistry in identifying this type of deposit. Each sample was sieved to minus 80 mesh and analyzed quantitatively for Au, Ag, As, Sb, Hg, Tl and semi-quantitative data for an additional 31 elements. Rank sum analysis is successful for the Au, Ag, As, Sb, Hg, Tl suite, even though bedrock geology is disregarded. This method involves data transformation into a total element signature by ranking the data in ascending order and summing the element ranks for each sample. The rank sums are then divided into percentile groups and plotted. The rank sum plot for the Dee soils unequivocally identifies three of four known ore zones.

An in Situ Technique for Elemental Analysis of Lunar Surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kane, K. Y.; Cremers, D. A.

1992-01-01

An in situ analytical technique that can remotely determine the elemental constituents of solids has been demonstrated. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a form of atomic emission spectroscopy in which a powerful laser pulse is focused on a solid to generate a laser spark, or microplasma. Material in the plasma is vaporized, and the resulting atoms are excited to emit light. The light is spectrally resolved to identify the emitting species. LIBS is a simple technique that can be automated for inclusion aboard a remotely operated vehicle. Since only optical access to a sample is required, areas inaccessible to a rover can be analyzed remotely. A single laser spark both vaporizes and excites the sample so that near real-time analysis (a few minutes) is possible. This technique provides simultaneous multielement detection and has good sensitivity for many elements. LIBS also eliminates the need for sample retrieval and preparation preventing possible sample contamination. These qualities make the LIBS technique uniquely suited for use in the lunar environment.

Trace element and major ion composition of wet and dry depositon in Ankara, Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, Güven; Tuncel, Gürdal

Daily, wet-only precipitation samples collected over a two year period were analyzed for SO 42-, NO 3-, Cl -, NH 4+, H +, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Al, Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn, V and Ni. Weekly dry-deposition samples collected on petri-dishes over the same period were analyzed only for major ions. Concentrations of ions and elements in Ankara precipitation are comparable with concentrations reported in literature for other urban areas. However, the wet deposition fluxes are the lowest among literature values, owing to small annual precipitation in the region. Although, annual average pH in precipitation is 4.7, episodic rain events with fairly low pH's were observed. Approximately half of the acidity in Ankara precipitation is neutralized in the winter season, while the acidity is completely neutralized by airborne soil particles that are rich in CaCO 3 in the summer precipitation. The SO 42- and NO 3- contributes approximately equally on the free acidity in winter. Main forms of SO 42- and NO 3- in precipitation are CaSO 4 and Ca(NO 3) 2, respectively. Crustal elements and ions have higher concentrations during summer season, while anthropogenic ions and elements did not show well-defined seasonal cycles. The lack of industrial activity in Ankara has profound influence on the temporal behavior of elements and ions.

Studying the spatial variability of Cr in agricultural field using both particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cruvinel, Paulo E.; Crestana, Sílvio; Artaxo, Paulo; Martins, JoséV.; Armelin, Maria JoséA.

1996-04-01

In the field of soil physics, a technique which permits a non-destructive, accurate and fast elemental analysis with a minimum of sample preparation effort is often desired. Although trace elements are minor components of the solid phase, they play an important role in soil fertility. Cr is of nutritional importance because it is a required element in human and animal nutrition. The immobility of Cr may be responsible for an inadequate Cr supply to plants. This work not only demonstrates the suitability of PIXE as a fast and non-destructive technique, useful to measure Cr content in soil samples, but also outlines a study of spatial variability of that element in agricultural field. To demonstrate the capability of the method soil samples were collected in a 5000 m 2 agricultural field. The soil samples were analyzed using both PIXE and INAA techniques. Besides, a Fourier interpolation technique was used to verify the distribution of Cr along of the sampled field. INAA was carried out by means of the γ-ray emitted by 51Cr(320 keV). Results show that there is a good linear relationship between the elemental concentration of Cr obtained using those techniques, i.e. a correlation coefficient of r2 = 0.82 was achieved.

Elemental analysis of size-fractionated particulate matter sampled in Göteborg, Sweden

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, Annemarie; Boman, Johan; Gatari, Michael J.

2008-12-01

The aim of the study was to investigate the mass distribution of trace elements in aerosol samples collected in the urban area of Göteborg, Sweden, with special focus on the impact of different air masses and anthropogenic activities. Three measurement campaigns were conducted during December 2006 and January 2007. A PIXE cascade impactor was used to collect particulate matter in 9 size fractions ranging from 16 to 0.06 µm aerodynamic diameter. Polished quartz carriers were chosen as collection substrates for the subsequent direct analysis by TXRF. To investigate the sources of the analyzed air masses, backward trajectories were calculated. Our results showed that diurnal sampling was sufficient to investigate the mass distribution for Br, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Sr and Zn, whereas a 5-day sampling period resulted in additional information on mass distribution for Cr and S. Unimodal mass distributions were found in the study area for the elements Ca, Cl, Fe and Zn, whereas the distributions for Br, Cu, Cr, K, Ni and S were bimodal, indicating high temperature processes as source of the submicron particle components. The measurement period including the New Year firework activities showed both an extensive increase in concentrations as well as a shift to the submicron range for K and Sr, elements that are typically found in fireworks. Further research is required to validate the quantification of trace elements directly collected on sample carriers.

Water-quality data for selected stations in the East Everglades, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Waller, Bradley G.

1981-01-01

The results of water-quality samples collected from April 1978 through April 1980 from three canal stations, four marsh stations, and two ground-water stations within the East Everglades, Dade County, Florida, are tabulated in 37 tables. The major categories of parameters analyzed are field measurements, physical characteristics, macronutrients (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus), major ions, trace elements, and algae. Chemical data for bulk-precipitation stations within and adjacent to the East Everglades are also given. The parameters analyzed include macronutrients, major ions, and trace elements. The period of record for these stations is October 1977 through April 1980. Bottom material at the canal and marsh stations was collected twice during the investigation. These data include analyses for macronutrients, trace elements, and chlorinated-hydrocarbon insecticides. (USGS)

Analysis of sewage sludge using an experimental prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (pgnaa) set-up with an am-be source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Idiri, Z.; Redjem, F.; Beloudah, N.

2016-09-01

An experimental PGNAA set-up using a 1 Ci Am-Be source has been developed and used for analysis of bulk sewage sludge samples issued from a wastewater treatment plant situated in an industrial area of Algiers. The sample dimensions were optimized using thermal neutron flux calculations carried out with the MCNP5 Monte Carlo Code. A methodology is then proposed to perform quantitative analysis using the absolute method. For this, average thermal neutron flux inside the sludge samples is deduced using average thermal neutron flux in reference water samples and thermal flux measurements with the aid of a 3He neutron detector. The average absolute gamma detection efficiency is determined using the prompt gammas emitted by chlorine dissolved in a water sample. The gamma detection efficiency is normalized for sludge samples using gamma attenuation factors calculated with the MCNP5 code for water and sludge. Wet and dehydrated sludge samples were analyzed. Nutritive elements (Ca, N, P, K) and heavy metals elements like Cr and Mn were determined. For some elements, the PGNAA values were compared to those obtained using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) methods. Good agreement is observed between the different values. Heavy element concentrations are very high compared to normal values; this is related to the fact that the wastewater treatment plant is treating not only domestic but also industrial wastewater that is probably rejected by industries without removal of pollutant elements. The detection limits for almost all elements of interest are sufficiently low for the method to be well suited for such analysis.

Determination of trace elements in bovine semen samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and data mining techniques for identification of bovine class.

PubMed

Aguiar, G F M; Batista, B L; Rodrigues, J L; Silva, L R S; Campiglia, A D; Barbosa, R M; Barbosa, F

2012-12-01

The reproductive performance of cattle may be influenced by several factors, but mineral imbalances are crucial in terms of direct effects on reproduction. Several studies have shown that elements such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc are essential for reproduction and can prevent oxidative stress. However, toxic elements such as lead, nickel, and arsenic can have adverse effects on reproduction. In this paper, we applied a simple and fast method of multi-element analysis to bovine semen samples from Zebu and European classes used in reproduction programs and artificial insemination. Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS) using aqueous medium calibration and the samples were diluted in a proportion of 1:50 in a solution containing 0.01% (vol/vol) Triton X-100 and 0.5% (vol/vol) nitric acid. Rhodium, iridium, and yttrium were used as the internal standards for ICP-MS analysis. To develop a reliable method of tracing the class of bovine semen, we used data mining techniques that make it possible to classify unknown samples after checking the differentiation of known-class samples. Based on the determination of 15 elements in 41 samples of bovine semen, 3 machine-learning tools for classification were applied to determine cattle class. Our results demonstrate the potential of support vector machine (SVM), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and random forest (RF) chemometric tools to identify cattle class. Moreover, the selection tools made it possible to reduce the number of chemical elements needed from 15 to just 8. Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Radioactivity Registered With a Small Number of Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zlokazov, Victor; Utyonkov, Vladimir

2018-02-01

The synthesis of superheavy elements asks for the analysis of low statistics experimental data presumably obeying an unknown exponential distribution and to take the decision whether they originate from one source or have admixtures. Here we analyze predictions following from non-parametrical methods, employing only such fundamental sample properties as the sample mean, the median and the mode.

Composition of apple juice.

PubMed

Mattick, L R; Moyer, J C

1983-09-01

Thirty-one samples from 8 geographic growing regions of the United States and 15 varieties common to these areas were converted to apple juice and analyzed for their attributes over the 3 year period 1979, 1980, and 1981. The total of 93 samples were analyzed for ash, brix, pH, proline, specific gravity, total acid, sorbitol, sucrose, fructose, and glucose. The elements cadmium, calcium, iron, lead, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc were also determined. These data are presented to serve as a data base for the detection of fraudulent or adulterated apple juice.

Analyses and descriptions of geochemical samples from the Rich Mountain Roadless Area, Fannin and Gilmer counties, Georgia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sears, C.M.; Foose, M.P.; Day, G.W.; Ericksen, M.S.

1983-01-01

Semi-quantitative spectrographic analyses for 31 elements on rock, soil, fine-grained stream sediment, bulk stream sediment, and panned stream sediment samples collected in the Rich Mountain Roadless Area, Fannin and Gilmer Counties, Georgia, are reported here. Atomic absorption analyses for gold and fluorometric analyses for uranium are also reported. Brief descriptions of all rock samples analyzed are included.

[Determination of metal elements in Achyranthis bidentatae radix from various habitats].

PubMed

Tu, Wan-Qian; Zhang, Liu-Ji

2011-12-01

To establish an atomic absorption spectrometry method for determination of the contents of metal elements in Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix and analyze 21 batches of samples from different areas. Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Zn and Cu were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydrogen flame detector, Pb, As and Cd were detected by graphite furnace atomic absorption, Hg was detected by cold atomic absorption. The heavy metal contents met the requirement of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The contents of K, Mg, Cu and Mn in the samples of geo-authentic areas were higher,while the contents of Fe, Zn, Hg and Pb in the samples of non-authentic areas were higher. This method is sample, accurate, repeatable and could be used to evaluate the quality of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miranda, J.; Calva-Vasquez, G.; Solis, C.

Particle induced X-ray emission (PIeXE) and Rutherford backscattering (RBS) elemental analyses of tree rings and soils from forests around the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) were performed. The aim was to estimate the impact of pollution on the forests. Cores from Pinus montezumae and Abies religiosa trees, in four forests around the MCMA (Desierto de los Leones, Iztapopocatepetl, Villa del Carbon and Zoquiapan) and a reference site (El Chico). Differences were observed in samples from the different forests, showing higher values in the areas closest to the MCMA. A correlation of several elements with ring width was found using clustermore » analysis. Additionally, soil analyses from different depths in the forests were carried out, trying to relate the elemental concentrations measured in the tree rings with cation mobility. In this case, samples taken in 1993 and 1999 were analyzed, showing elemental mobility to the various depths.« less

Active Sphagnum girgensohnii Russow Moss Biomonitoring of an Industrial Site in Romania: Temporal Variation in the Elemental Content.

PubMed

Culicov, Otilia A; Zinicovscaia, Inga; Duliu, O G

2016-05-01

The moss-bag transplant technique was used to investigate the kinetics of the accumulation of 38 elements in Sphagnum girgensohni moss samples in the highly polluted municipality of Baia Mare, Romania. The moss samples collected from the unpolluted Vitosha Mountain Natural Reserve, Bulgaria, were analyzed after 1, 2, 3, and 4 months of exposure, respectively. The ANOVA method was used to assay the statistical significance of the observed changes in elemental content, as determined by neutron activation analysis. The content of Zn, Se, As, Ag, Cd, and Sb increased steadily, while that of physiologically active K and Cl, as well as Rb and Cs, decreased exponentially. The study showed that an adequate application of the moss transplant technique in an urban environment should consider the exposure time as a critical parameter, since particular elements are depleted in the moss at sites with high atmospheric loading of metals.

Trace elemental analysis of school chalk using energy dispersive X-ray florescence spectroscopy (ED-XRF)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maruthi, Y. A., E-mail: ymjournal2014@gmail.com; Das, N. Lakshmana, E-mail: nldas9@gmail.com; Ramprasad, S., E-mail: ramprasadsurakala@gmail.com

The present studies focus the quantitative analysis of elements in school chalk to ensure the safety of its use. The elements like Calcium (Ca), Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Silicon (Si) and Chromium (Cr) were analyzed from settled chalk dust samples collected from five classrooms (CD-1) and also from another set of unused chalk samples collected from local market (CD-2) using Energy Dispersive X-Ray florescence(ED-XRF) spectroscopy. Presence of these elements in significant concentrations in school chalk confirmed that, it is an irritant and occupational hazard. It is suggested to use protective equipments like filtered mask for mouth, nose and chalk holders.more » This study also suggested using the advanced mode of techniques like Digital boards, marker boards and power point presentations to mitigate the occupational hazard for classroom chalk.« less

Investigation of therapeutic potentials of some selected medicinal plants using neutron activation analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abubakar, Sani; Isa, Nasiru Fage; Usman, Ahmed Rufa’i

Series of attempts were made to investigate concentrations of trace elements and their therapeutic properties in various medicinal plants. In this study, samples of some commonly used plants were collected from Bauchi State, Nigeria. They includes leaves of azadirachta indica (neem), Moringa Oleifera (moringa), jatropha curcas (purgin Nut), guiera senegalensis (custard apple) and anogeissus leiocarpus (African birch). These samples were analyzed for their trace elements contents with both short and long irradiation protocols of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) at Nigerian Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The level of trace elements found varies from one samplemore » to another, with some reported at hundreds of mg/Kg dry weight. The results have been compared with the available literature data. The presence of these trace elements indicates promising potentials of these plants for relief of certain ailments.« less

Survey on Metals Contained in Stainless Steel Kitchenware and Tableware.

PubMed

Shiozawa, Yuu; Haneishi, Nahoko; Suzuki, Kumi; Ogimoto, Mami; Takanashi, Mayu; Tomioka, Naoko; Uematsu, Yoko; Monma, Kimio

2017-01-01

Stainless steel kitchenware and tableware on sale in Japan were investigated. Surface elemental composition ratios of 172 samples were analyzed by the fluorescence X-ray method. High levels of manganese (9.59-20.03%)were detected in 17 samples. This finding was confirmed by ICP analysis. Next, we conducted migration tests. Samples conformed to the Italian Specific Migration Limits. Moreover, lead and antimony were not detected in these samples, in accordance with the Japanese Food Sanitation Law.

Studying the atmospheric chemistry: Statististical study of epiphyte plant Spanish Moss in Florida, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, S.; Parker, W.; Odom, L.

2003-04-01

The detrimental influence which airborne contaminants has on vegetation in many parts of the world has become of increasing interest and concern in recent years. The use of suitable plants such as epiphytes (vegetation which grows on another plant) for measuring concentrations of airborne materials provides the advantages of (a) an integration of the periodic fluctuations in amounts of these materials that occur over relatively long periods of time and (b) economy in sampling. This class of plants, which are mosses and lichens, are somewhat less dependent on their substrates and may act more purely as air indicators. The epiphytes do not derive nutrients from soil, but depend on airborne moisture and particulates for elemental sources. The way with which they absorb nutrients from these external sources gives rise to an uncommon sensitivity to the harmful effects of air pollution. Also in addition, plants of this class absorb constituents of airborne particulates which may not be directly toxic to the plant but of environmental concern to humans. In particular, trace element accumulation in epiphytic Tillandsia usneoides L. (Spanish Moss) common in Atlantic and Gulf Coastal plains has been used in air pollution studies. Recent studies have also evaluated Spanish moss as an indicator of contamination of pesticides and other organic aromatic compounds. Two hundred and six samples of Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides L.) were collected from over its geographic range in Florida for this study. The samples were analyzed for a variety of major and minor elements, and the resulting data were statistically analyzed for pertinent geochemical associations. Three statistical methods have been used on the geochemical data of Spanish moss to evaluate the nature of probable sources for each of the elements. This kind of work is being done because the exact nature and location of each specimen is unknown. So, the three different statistical methods have been used to classify or determine where the elements came in from based on the following study done by HT Shacklette and JJ Connor in 1973. The first method used, R mode Cluster Analysis (CA) in this report has resulted in some specific group of elements that tend to be coming from the same kind of sources. The Rare Earth Elements (REEs) show an excellent grouping. Their probable source maybe from samples, which had lots of intake of soil dust and rock dust. The grouping of elements Co-Pb-V-Ni-W-Ba probably is because they are all from samples collected near highway where there is a lot of automotive exhaust. Again, clustering of Zn-Sn-Mo-In-Sb probably show that they are from samples, which came from some industrial sites. Samples probably collected from and around sea beaches will have the following elements clustering together: Na-Mg-Li-B. The second method, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in this project has resulted in a specific descriptive model of chemical variation in Spanish moss. The model appears to be mathematically adequate, in that 4 components describe nearly 64% of the total observed variation and also informative in identifying some major probable sources for the different elements analyzed. Two kinds of sources have been identified: one is natural particulates from soil and rock dust and agricultural sources &the other being technological metals from automotive exhaust and industrial output. The first two components have been labeled as "natural particulates" and the remaining as "technological metals" after Connor and Shacklette. The elements with highest loadings on first and second component are lithium, boron, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, scandium, titanium, iron, selenium, strontium, yttrium, molybdenum, indium, antimony, lanthanum, uranium and bismuth and Rare earth elements (REE) which in general have mainly agricultural and natural sources. The elements with highest loadings on third and fourth component are potassium, copper, arsenic, barium, vanadium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, rubidium, cadmium, tin, cesium, tungsten, barium, mercury and lead, mostly having industrial and automotive sources. Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) has been used as verification to the results obtained from CA and PCA. There is some factor, which has a strong effect on some of the elements, and this factor is unidentified yet in the project. Overall, most of the elements are behaving as expected based on the earlier work of Shacklette and Connor (1973) and results from CA and PCA.

Simultaneous trace multielement determination by ICP-OES after solid phase extraction with modified octadecyl silica gel.

PubMed

Karbasi, Mohamad-Hadi; Jahanparast, Babak; Shamsipur, Mojtaba; Hassan, Jalal

2009-10-15

Multielement simultaneous determination of 35 trace elements in environmental samples was carried out by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after preconcentration with octadecyl silicagel, modified with aurin tricarboxylic acid (Aluminon). Optimal experimental conditions including pH of sample solution, sample volume, sample and eluent flow rate, type, concentration and volume of eluent and foreign ions effect were investigated and established. Trace element ions in aqueous solution were quantitatively adsorbed onto octadecyl silicagel modified with aurin tricarboxylic acid at pH 8.0 with a flow rate of 11.0 mL min(-1). The adsorbed element ions were eluted with 3-5 mL of 0.5 mol L(-1) HNO(3) at a flow rate of 10.0 mL min(-1) and analyzed by ICP-OES simultaneously. The proposed method has at least preconcentration factor of 100 in water samples, which results high sensitive detection of ultra-trace and trace analysis. The present methodology gave recoveries better than 70% and RSD less than 16%.

New bulk and in situ isotopic and elemental geochemistry of shallow drill core from Atlantis Massif: insights into the sources and paths of fluids and clasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilenker, L.; Weis, D.; Scoates, J. S.

2017-12-01

We present stable Fe and radiogenic isotope and complementary trace element data for samples from Atlantis Massif. This oceanic core complex is located at 30°N where the Atlantis Transform Fault intersects the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) and is associated with the Lost City Hydrothermal Field (LCHF). It is a unique place to investigate the abiotic and biotic geochemical processes that play a role in the alteration of both crustal and mantle seafloor rocks. The samples analyzed represent a shallow (<15 m) survey of five drill sites (IODP Expedition 357) within Atlantis Massif, varying in distance from the LCHF and MAR. Analyses were performed on a sample set spanning a wide range in degree of alteration and lithology. Bulk measurements involved dissolving whole rock powders, whereas in situ analyses were performed on digested microdrilled samples or by laser ablation. Bulk rock Fe isotope values (n = 34) are correlated with loss-on-ignition (LOI) by sample lithology and location relative to LCHF. Using LOI as a proxy for degree of alteration, this observation indicates that the Fe isotope systematics of seafloor crustal and mantle rocks preserve indicators of fluid flow and source. The Hf and Nd isotope compositions for various lithologies form all analyzed sites are homogeneous, indicating minimal alteration of these isotopic systems. Bulk Sr values provide insight into elemental exchange between seawater and the surface of Atlantis Massif and bulk Pb isotopes allow for fingerprinting of the source of basalt breccias through comparison with published Pb isotope values of MAR basalts. The new results cluster around the Pb, Hf, Nd isotopic composition of mid-ocean ridge basalt from 30.68°N and do not match samples north or south of that location. In situ Fe isotope data within three altered samples reflect varying degrees of hydrothermal and seawater interaction, where the Fe isotope ratios within each sample are likely correlated with extent of exchange or redox. Laser trace element and Pb isotope data in progress will allow us to investigate this further. This study contributes to our understanding of element mobility and mass transfer during chemical reactions within the seafloor, provides insight into the source of the lithological units and fluid flow, and allows for quantification of alteration processes.

pXRF quantitative analysis of the Otowi Member of the Bandelier Tuff: Generating large, robust data sets to decipher trace element zonation in large silicic magma chambers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Hoose, A. E.; Wolff, J.; Conrey, R.

2013-12-01

Advances in portable X-Ray fluorescence (pXRF) analytical technology have made it possible for high-quality, quantitative data to be collected in a fraction of the time required by standard, non-portable analytical techniques. Not only do these advances reduce analysis time, but data may also be collected in the field in conjunction with sampling. Rhyolitic pumice, being primarily glass, is an excellent material to be analyzed with this technology. High-quality, quantitative data for elements that are tracers of magmatic differentiation (e.g. Rb, Sr, Y, Nb) can be collected for whole, individual pumices and subsamples of larger pumices in 4 minutes. We have developed a calibration for powdered rhyolite pumice from the Otowi Member of the Bandelier Tuff analyzed with the Bruker Tracer IV pXRF using Bruker software and influence coefficients for pumice, which measures the following 19 oxides and elements: SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, FeO*, MnO, CaO, K2O, P2O5, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Ce, Pb, and Th. With this calibration for the pXRF and thousands of individual powdered pumice samples, we have generated an unparalleled data set for any single eruptive unit with known trace element zonation. The Bandelier Tuff of the Valles-Toledo Caldera Complex, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico, is divided into three main eruptive events. For this study, we have chosen the 1.61 Ma, 450 km3 Otowi Member as it is primarily unwelded and pumice samples are easily accessible. The eruption began with a plinian phase from a single source located near center of the current caldera and deposited the Guaje Pumice Bed. The initial Unit A of the Guaje is geochemically monotonous, but Units B through E, co-deposited with ignimbrite show very strong chemical zonation in trace elements, progressing upwards through the deposits from highly differentiated compositions (Rb ~350 ppm, Nb ~200 ppm) to less differentiated (Rb ~100 ppm, Nb ~50 ppm). Co-erupted ignimbrites emplaced during column collapse show similar trace element zonation. The eruption culminated in caldera collapse after transitioning from a single central vent to ring fracture vents. Ignimbrites deposited at this time have lithic breccias and chaotic geochemical profiles. The geochemical discrepancy between early and late deposits warrants detailed, high-resolution sampling and analysis in order to fully understand the dynamics behind zonation processes. Samples were collected from locations that circumvent the caldera and prepared and analyzed in the field and the laboratory with the pXRF. Approximately 2,000 pumice samples will complete this unprecedented data set, allowing detailed reconstruction of trace element zonation around all sides of the Valles Caldera. These data are then used to constrain models of magma chamber processes that produce trace element zonation and how it is preserved in the deposits after a catastrophic, caldera-forming eruption.

Atmospheric pollution for trace elements in the remote high-altitude atmosphere in central Asia as recorded in snow from Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) of the Himalayas.

PubMed

Lee, Khanghyun; Hur, Soon Do; Hou, Shugui; Hong, Sungmin; Qin, Xiang; Ren, Jiawen; Liu, Yapping; Rosman, Kevin J R; Barbante, Carlo; Boutron, Claude F

2008-10-01

A series of 42 snow samples covering over a one-year period from the fall of 2004 to the summer of 2005 were collected from a 2.1-m snow pit at a high-altitude site on the northeastern slope of Mt. Everest. These samples were analyzed for Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Cd, Sb, Pb, and Bi in order to characterize the relative contributions from anthropogenic and natural sources to the fallout of these elements in central Himalayas. Our data were also considered in the context of monsoon versus non-monsoon seasons. The mean concentrations of the majority of the elements were determined to be at the pg g(-1) level with a strong variation in concentration with snow depth. While the mean concentrations of most of the elements were significantly higher during the non-monsoon season than during the monsoon season, considerable variability in the trace element inputs to the snow was observed during both periods. Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, and Bi displayed high crustal enrichment factors (EFc) in most samples, while Cr, Ni, Rb, and Pb show high EFc values in some of the samples. Our data indicate that anthropogenic inputs are potentially important for these elements in the remote high-altitude atmosphere in the central Himalayas. The relationship between the EFc of each element and the Al concentration indicates that a dominant input of anthropogenic trace elements occurs during both the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons, when crustal contribution is relatively minor. Finally, a comparison of the trace element fallout fluxes calculated in our samples with those recently obtained at Mont Blanc, Greenland, and Antarctica provides direct evidence for a geographical gradient of the atmospheric pollution with trace elements on a global scale.

Elemental bioimaging by means of LA-ICP-OES: investigation of the calcium, sodium and potassium distribution in tobacco plant stems and leaf petioles.

PubMed

Thyssen, G M; Holtkamp, M; Kaulfürst-Soboll, H; Wehe, C A; Sperling, M; von Schaewen, A; Karst, U

2017-06-21

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (LA-ICP-OES) is presented as a valuable tool for elemental bioimaging of alkali and earth alkali elements in plants. Whereas LA-ICP-OES is commonly used for micro analysis of solid samples, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has advanced to the gold standard for bioimaging. However, especially for easily excitable and ubiquitous elements such as alkali and earth alkali elements, LA-ICP-OES holds some advantages regarding simultaneous detection, costs, contamination, and user-friendliness. This is demonstrated by determining the calcium, sodium and potassium distribution in tobacco plant stem and leaf petiole tissues. A quantification of the calcium contents in a concentration range up to 1000 μg g -1 using matrix-matched standards is presented as well. The method is directly compared to a LA-ICP-MS approach by analyzing parallel slices of the same samples.

A Critical Analysis of the Common Elements of a High School Social Justice Curriculum: Quantitative Research vs. Qualitative Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartlep, Nicholas Daniel

2010-01-01

The topic of this article is high school social justice curriculum [SJC]. Three socially-just focused studies were critically analyzed. Sample sizes in these studies varied from n = 12 to n = 55. It is the author's belief, based on the research of others (Kerssen-Griep & Eifler, 2008) that an effective SJC should consist of the following elements:…

TORO II: A finite element computer program for nonlinear quasi-static problems in electromagnetics: Part 2, User`s manual

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gartling, D.K.

User instructions are given for the finite element, electromagnetics program, TORO II. The theoretical background and numerical methods used in the program are documented in SAND95-2472. The present document also describes a number of example problems that have been analyzed with the code and provides sample input files for typical simulations. 20 refs., 34 figs., 3 tabs.

Gas-phase mercury reduction to measure total mercury in the flue gas of a coal-fired boiler.

PubMed

Meischen, Sandra J; Van Pelt, Vincent J; Zarate, Eugene A; Stephens, Edward A

2004-01-01

Gaseous elemental and total (elemental + oxidized) mercury (Hg) in the flue gas from a coal-fired boiler was measured by a modified ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer. Challenges to Hg measurement were the spectral interferences from other flue gas components and that UV measures only elemental Hg. To eliminate interference from flue gas components, a cartridge filled with gold-coated sand removed elemental Hg from a flue gas sample. The Hg-free flue gas was the reference gas, eliminating the spectral interferences. To measure total Hg by UV, oxidized Hg underwent a gas-phase, thermal-reduction in a quartz cell heated to 750 degrees C. Simultaneously, hydrogen was added to flash react with the oxygen present forming water vapor and preventing Hg re-oxidation as it exits the cell. Hg concentration results are in parts per billion by volume Hg at the flue gas oxygen concentration. The modified Hg analyzer and the Ontario Hydro method concurrently measured Hg at a field test site. Measurements were made at a 700-MW steam turbine plant with scrubber units and selective catalytic reduction. The flue gas sampled downstream of the selective catalytic reduction contained 2100 ppm SO2 and 75 ppm NOx. Total Hg measured by the Hg analyzer was within 20% of the Ontario Hydro results.

Sampling design optimization for spatial functions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Olea, R.A.

1984-01-01

A new procedure is presented for minimizing the sampling requirements necessary to estimate a mappable spatial function at a specified level of accuracy. The technique is based on universal kriging, an estimation method within the theory of regionalized variables. Neither actual implementation of the sampling nor universal kriging estimations are necessary to make an optimal design. The average standard error and maximum standard error of estimation over the sampling domain are used as global indices of sampling efficiency. The procedure optimally selects those parameters controlling the magnitude of the indices, including the density and spatial pattern of the sample elements and the number of nearest sample elements used in the estimation. As an illustration, the network of observation wells used to monitor the water table in the Equus Beds of Kansas is analyzed and an improved sampling pattern suggested. This example demonstrates the practical utility of the procedure, which can be applied equally well to other spatial sampling problems, as the procedure is not limited by the nature of the spatial function. ?? 1984 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Development of a complex of instrumental nuclear-physical methods to detect PGE, Re, Au, and Ag in hard-to-analyze rocks and complex ores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolmogorov, Yu. P.; Mezentsev, N. A.; Mironov, A. G.; Parkhomenko, V. S.; Spiridonov, A. M.; Shaporenko, A. D.; Yusupov, T. S.; Zhmodik, S. M.; Zolotarev, K. V.; Anoshin, G. N.

2009-05-01

A system of methods to detect platinum group elements (PGE): Re, Au, and Ag in hard-to-analyze rocks and complex ores has been developed. It applies the SRXRF for Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag and the INAA method for Os, Ir, Pt and Ag and implies mechanoactivation of probes to study. The results of measurement of standard samples of carbonaceous rocks and ores in order to PGE, gold, and silver confirm the possibility of detecting some of the above-listed elements with a detection limit of 10 ppb.

Fluid rare earth element anlayses from geothermal wells located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland and Middle Valley seafloor hydrothermal system on the Juan de Fuca Ridge.

DOE Data Explorer

Andrew Fowler

2015-05-01

Results for fluid rare earth element analyses from four Reykjanes peninsula high-temperature geothermal fields. Data for fluids from hydrothermal vents located 2400 m below sea level from Middle Valley on the Juan de Fuca Ridge are also included. Data have been corrected for flashing. Samples preconcentrated using a chelating resin with IDA functional group (InertSep ME-1). Analyzed using an Element magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Extraction of information from major element chemical analyses of lunar basalts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butler, J. C.

1985-01-01

Major element chemical analyses often form the framework within which similarities and differences of analyzed specimens are noted and used to propose or devise models. When percentages are formed the ratios of pairs of components are preserved whereas many familiar statistical and geometrical descriptors are likely to exhibit major changes. This ratio preserving aspect forms the basis for a proposed framework. An analysis of compositional variability within the data set of 42 major element analyses of lunar reference samples was selected to investigate this proposal.

Major and Trace Element Variations in Impact Crater Clay from Chicxulub, Lonar, and Mistastin, Implications for the Martian Soil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newsom, H. E.; Nelson, M. J.; Shearer, C. K.; Rietmeijer, F. J. M.; Gakin, R.; Lee, K.

2004-01-01

The catastrophic Chicxulub event should have generated a large hydrothermal system with volatile element mobilization, producing interesting alteration materials and clays. The Yaxcopoil-1 (YAX) drill hole is located in the annular trough, about 70 km southwest of the crater center, in an area where the impactite layers are relatively thin (approx. 100 m thick). We have analyzed samples from the YAX drill core and from other impact craters including Mistastin and Lonar to determine the nature of alteration and trace element mobilization.

Exposure of insects and insectivorous birds to metals and other elements from abandoned mine tailings in three Summit County drainages, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Custer, Christine M.; Yang, C.; Crock, J.G.; Shearn-Bochsler, V.; Smith, K.S.; Hageman, P.L.

2009-01-01

Concentrations of 31 metals, metalloids, and other elements were measured in insects and insectivorous bird tissues from three drainages with different geochemistry and mining histories in Summit Co., Colorado, in 2003, 2004, and 2005. In insect samples, all 25 elements that were analyzed in all years increased in both Snake and Deer Creeks in the mining impacted areas compared to areas above and below the mining impacted areas. This distribution of elements was predicted from known or expected sediment contamination resulting from abandoned mine tailings in those drainages. Element concentrations in avian liver tissues were in concordance with levels in insects, that is with concentrations higher in mid-drainage areas where mine tailings were present compared to both upstream and downstream locations; these differences were not always statistically different, however. The lack of statistically significant differences in liver tissues, except for a few elements, was due to relatively small sample sizes and because many of these elements are essential and therefore well regulated by the bird's homeostatic processes. Most elements were at background concentrations in avian liver tissue except for Pb which was elevated at mid-drainage sites to levels where ??-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was inhibited at other mining sites in Colorado. Lead exposure, however, was not at toxic levels. Fecal samples were not a good indication of what elements birds ingested and were potentially exposed to. ?? Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.

In-Situ Sampling Analysis of a Jupiter Trojan Asteroid by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry in the Solar Power Sail Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kebukawa, Y.; Aoki, J.; Ito, M.; Kawai, Y.; Okada, T.; Matsumoto, J.; Yano, H.; Yurimoto, H.; Terada, K.; Toyoda, M.; Yabuta, H.; Nakamura, R.; Cottin, H.; Grand, N.; Mori, O.

2017-12-01

The Solar Power Sail (SPS) mission is one of candidates for the upcoming strategic middle-class space exploration to demonstrate the first outer Solar System journey of Japan. The mission concept includes in-situ sampling analysis of the surface and subsurface (up to 1 m) materials of a Jupiter Trojan asteroid using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The candidates for the HRMS are multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MULTUM) type and Cosmorbitrap type. We plan to analyze isotopic and elemental compositions of volatile materials from organic matter, hydrated minerals, and ice (if any), in order to understand origin and evolution of the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. It will provide insights into planet formation/migration theories, evolution and distribution of volatiles in the Solar System, and missing link between asteroids and comets on evolutional. The HRMS system allows to measure H, N, C, O isotopic compositions and elemental compositions of molecules prepared by various pre-MS procedures including stepwise heating up to 600ºC, gas chromatography (GC), and high-temperature pyrolysis with catalyst to decompose the samples into simple gaseous molecules (e.g., H2, CO, and N2) for isotopic ratio analysis. The required mass resolution should be at least 30,000 for analyzing isotopic ratios for simple gaseous molecules. For elemental compositions, mass accuracy of 10 ppm is required to determine elemental compositions for molecules with m/z up to 300 (as well as compound specific isotopic compositions for smaller molecules). Our planned analytical sequences consist of three runs for both surface and subsurface samples. In addition, `sniff mode' which simply introduces environmental gaseous molecules into a HRMS will be done by the system.

Two modulator generalized ellipsometer for complete mueller matrix measurement

DOEpatents

Jellison, Jr., Gerald E.; Modine, Frank A.

1999-01-01

A two-modulator generalized ellipsometer (2-MGE) comprising two polarizer-photoelastic modulator (PEM) pairs, an optical light source, an optical detection system, and associated data processing and control electronics, where the PEMs are free-running. The input light passes through the first polarizer-PEM pair, reflects off the sample surface or passes through the sample, passes through the second PEM-polarizer pair, and is detected. Each PEM is free running and operates at a different resonant frequency, e.g., 50 and 60 kHz. The resulting time-dependent waveform of the light intensity is a complicated function of time, and depends upon the exact operating frequency and phase of each PEM, the sample, and the azimuthal angles of the polarizer-PEM pairs, but can be resolved into a dc component and eight periodic components. In one embodiment, the waveform is analyzed using a new spectral analysis technique that is similar to Fourier analysis to determine eight sample Mueller matrix elements (normalized to the m.sub.00 Mueller matrix element). The other seven normalized elements of the general 4.times.4 Mueller matrix can be determined by changing the azimuthal angles of the PEM-polarizer pairs with respect to the plane of incidence. Since this instrument can measure all elements of the sample Mueller matrix, it is much more powerful than standard ellipsometers.

Preliminary Compositional Comparisons of H-Chondrite Falls to Antarctic H-Chondrite Populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kallemeyn, G. W.; Krot, A. N.; Rubin, A. E.

1993-07-01

In a series of papers [e.g., 1,2], Lipschutz and co-workers compared trace- element RNAA data from Antarctic and non-Antarctic H4-6 chondrites and concluded that the two populations have significantly different concentrations of several trace elements including Co, Se, and Sb. They interpreted their data as indicating that these Antarctic H chondrites form different populations than observed H falls and may have originated in separate parent bodies. Recent work by Sears and co-workers [e.g., 3] has shown that there seem to be distinct populations of Antarctic H chondrites, distinguishable on the bases of induced thermoluminescence (TL) peak temperature, metallographic cooling rate, and cosmic ray exposure age. They showed that a group of Antarctic H chondrites having abnormally high induced TL peak temperatures (>=190 degrees C) also has cosmic ray exposure ages <20 Ma (mostly ~8 Ma) and fast metallographic cooling rates (~100 K/Ma). Another group having induced TL peak temperatures <190 degrees C has exposure ages >20 Ma and slower cooling rates (~10-20 K/Ma). We studied 24 H4-6 chondrites from Victoria Land (including 12 previously analyzed by the Lipschutz group) by optical microscopy and electron microprobe. Many of the Antarctic H chondrites studied by Lipschutz and co- workers are unsuitable for proper compositional comparisons with H chondrite falls: Four are very weathered, five are extensively shocked, and two are extensively brecciated. Furthermore, at least five of the samples contain solar-wind gas (and hence are regolith breccias) [4]. These samples were rejected because of possible compositional modification by secondary processes. For our INAA study we chose a suite of relatively unweathered and unbrecciated Antarctic H chondrites (including nine from the Lipschutz set): ALHA 77294 (H5, S3); ALHA 79026 (H5, S3); ALHA 79039 (H5, S3); ALHA 80131 (H5, S3); ALHA 80132 (H5, S4); ALHA 81037 (H6, S3); EETA 79007 (H5, S4); LEW 85320 (H6, S4); LEW 85329 (H6, S3); RKPA 78002 (H5, S2); and RKPA 78004 (H4, S4). Single samples were each analyzed for 27 elements. Only four of our samples have been analyzed by TL. Concentrations of siderophile elements (Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, As, Au) in the Antarctic H chondrites tend to scatter more than those of 24 H falls studied in replicate at UCLA. This is probably due in part to the fact that replicate samples of the Antarctic chondrites have not yet been analyzed. The median concentrations of siderophile elements also tend to be slightly lower in Antarctic H chondrites, although 95% confidence intervals on the medians overlap with those of H falls for every element. Concentration ranges and median values of two chalcophile elements, Se and Zn, are nearly identical between the Antarctic H chondrites and H falls. Kolmogorov-Smirnov two-tailed tests on these elements show no significant differences between the two populations. Three of the elements analyzed in this study (Co, Se, Sb) are among those reported to vary significantly between Antarctic H chondrites and H falls by Dennison and Lipschutz [1], who found that median concentrations of these elements were slightly higher in Antarctic H chondrites. As noted earlier, we determined slightly lower median concentrations for Co and Sb in Antarctic H chondrites than in H falls; median Se concentrations were identical. The slightly lower median concentration values that we found for siderophile elements in general are probably indicative of a slight weathering loss of metal. Based on our compositional data, the Victoria Land H chondrites and non-Antarctic H falls do not require derivation from separate parent populations. References: [1] Dennison J. E. and Lipschutz M. E. (1987) GCA, 51, 741-754. [2] Lipschutz M. E. and Samuels S. M. (1991) GCA, 55, 19-34. [3] Benoit P. H. and Sears D. W. G. (1993) Icarus, 101, 188-200. [4] Schultz L. et al. (1991) GCA, 55, 59-66.

Assessment of selected contaminants in streambed- and suspended-sediment samples collected in Bexar County, Texas, 2007-09

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, Jennifer T.

2011-01-01

Elevated concentrations of sediment-associated contaminants are typically associated with urban areas such as San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County, the seventh most populous city in the United States. This report describes an assessment of selected sediment-associated contaminants in samples collected in Bexar County from sites on the following streams: Medio Creek, Medina River, Elm Creek, Martinez Creek, Chupaderas Creek, Leon Creek, Salado Creek, and San Antonio River. During 2007-09, the U.S. Geological Survey periodically collected surficial streambed-sediment samples during base flow and suspended-sediment (large-volume suspended-sediment) samples from selected streams during stormwater runoff. All sediment samples were analyzed for major and trace elements and for organic compounds including halogenated organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Selected contaminants in streambed and suspended sediments in watersheds of the eight major streams in Bexar County were assessed by using a variety of methods—observations of occurrence and distribution, comparison to sediment-quality guidelines and data from previous studies, statistical analyses, and source indicators. Trace elements concentrations were low compared to the consensus-based sediment-quality guidelines threshold effect concentration (TEC) and probable effect concentration (PEC). Trace element concentrations were greater than the TEC in 28 percent of the samples and greater than the PEC in 1.5 percent of the samples. Chromium concentrations exceeded sediment-quality guidelines more frequently than concentrations of any other constituents analyzed in this study (greater than the TEC in 69 percent of samples and greater than the PEC in 8 percent of samples). Mean trace element concentrations generally are lower in Bexar County samples compared to concentrations in samples collected during previous studies in the Austin and Fort Worth, Texas, areas, but considering the relatively large ranges and standard deviations associated with the concentrations measured in all three areas, the trace element concentrations are similar. On the basis of Mann-Whitney U test results, the presence of a military installation in a watershed was associated with statistically significant higher chromium, mercury, and zinc concentrations in streambed sediments compared to concentrations of the same elements in a watershed without a military installation. Halogenated organic compounds analyzed in sediment samples included pesticides (chlordane, dieldrin, DDT, DDD, and DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and brominated flame retardants. Three or more halogenated organic compounds were detected in each sediment sample, and 66 percent of all concentrations were less than the respective interim reporting levels. Halogenated organic compound concentrations were mostly low compared to consensus-based sediment quality guidelines-;TECs were exceeded in 11 percent of the analyses and PECs were exceeded in 1 percent of the analyses. Chlordane compounds were the most frequently detected halogenated organic compounds with one or more detections of chlordane compounds in every watershed; concentrations were greater than the TEC in 6 percent of the samples. Dieldrin was detected in 50 percent of all samples, however all concentrations were much less than the TEC. The DDT compounds (p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDE) were detected less frequently than some other halogenated organic compounds, however most detections exceeded the TECs. p,p'-DDT was detected in 13 percent of the samples (TEC exceeded in 67 percent); p,p'-DDD was detected in 19 percent of the samples (TEC exceeded in 78 percent); and p,p'-DDE was detected in 35 percent of the samples (TEC exceeded in 53 percent). p,p'-DDE concentrations in streambed-sediment samples correlate positively with population density and residential, commercial, and transportation land use. One or more PCB congeners were detected in

The Investigation of Laser Ignited Plasma with the Application of Current Probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsson, Trevor; Amos, James; Ujj, Laszlo

Among a variety of atomic emission spectroscopy methods Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is the one which can analyze any solid, liquid or gas sample. The elemental composition and the relative abundance of the constituent elements in the samples can be determined when the emission spectra of short laser pulses igniting plasma is then recorded and analyzed(e.g.). In our studies we have made a LIBS system which includes, but is not limited to investigating the physical phenomena and properties of the emitting plasma. Active research is going on concerning Lithium-ion batteries to increase the stored charge and energy per volume properties of the device. LIBS is proposed to test the manufacturing process and analyze the chemical constituents of the newly developed batteries. The composition of the battery itself consists of two pieces of foil, typically aluminum and copper acting as a cathode and anode respectively. Separating these two pieces of foil is a lithium based compound. The general chemical composition is Lix [Metal]y Oz where [Metal] is the specific element that is used to achieve the purpose of the battery (one metal may increase the out-put while another helps with capacity etc.). We have chosen the Li-Ion battery composed of LiCoO2 from a mobile phone in order to investigate the Stark-effect (Stark shift and Stark broadening) of the lithium present in the sample. Effects of line broadening and reabsorption of the signals are addressed by recording LIBS spectra from the powder electrolyte extracted from a Lithium-ion battery.

Identification of water-quality trends using sediment cores from Dillon Reservoir, Summit County, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Greve, Adrienne I.; Spahr, Norman E.; Van Metre, Peter C.; Wilson, Jennifer T.

2001-01-01

Since the construction of Dillon Reservoir, in Summit County, Colorado, in 1963, its drainage area has been the site of rapid urban development and the continued influence of historical mining. In an effort to assess changes in water quality within the drainage area, sediment cores were collected from Dillon Reservoir in 1997. The sediment cores were analyzed for pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and trace elements. Pesticides, PCBs, and PAHs were used to determine the effects of urban development, and trace elements were used to identify mining contributions. Water-quality and streambed-sediment samples, collected at the mouth of three streams that drain into Dillon Reservoir, were analyzed for trace elements. Of the 14 pesticides and 3 PCBs for which the sediment samples were analyzed, only 2 pesticides were detected. Low amounts of dichloro-diphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichloro-diphenyldichloroethane (DDD), metabolites of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), were found at core depths of 5 centimeters and below 15 centimeters in a core collected near the dam. The longest core, which was collected near the dam, spanned the entire sedimentation history of the reservoir. Concentrations of total combustion PAH and the ratio of fluoranthene to pyrene in the core sample decreased with core depth and increased over time. This relation is likely due to growth in residential and tourist populations in the region. Comparisons between core samples gathered in each arm of the reservoir showed the highest PAH concentrations were found in the Tenmile Creek arm, the only arm that has an urban area on its shores, the town of Frisco. All PAH concentrations, except the pyrene concentration in one segment in the core near the dam and acenaphthylene concentrations in the tops of three cores taken in the reservoir arms, were below Canadian interim freshwater sediment-quality guidelines. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc in sediment samples from Dillon Reservoir exceeded the Canadian interim freshwater sediment-quality guidelines. Copper, iron, lithium, nickel, scandium, titanium, and vanadium concentrations in sediment samples decreased over time. Other elements, while no trend was evident, displayed concentration spikes in the down-core profiles, indicating loads entering the reservoir may have been larger than they were in 1997. The highest concentrations of copper, lead, manganese, mercury, and zinc were detected during the late 1970's and early 1980's. Elevated concentrations of trace elements in sediment in Dillon Reservoir likely resulted from historical mining in the drainage area. The downward trend identified for copper, iron, lithium, nickel, scandium, titanium, and vanadium may be due in part to restoration efforts in mining-affected areas and a decrease in active mining in the Dillon Reservoir watershed. Although many trace-element core-sediment concentrations exceeded the Canadian probable effect level for freshwater lakes, under current limnological conditions, the high core-sediment concentrations do not adversely affect water quality in Dillon Reservoir. The trace-element concentrations in the reservoir water column meet the standards established by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. Although many trace-element core-sediment concentrations exceeded the Canadian probable effect level for freshwater lakes, under current limnological conditions, the high core-sediment concentrations do not adversely affect water quality in Dillon Reservoir. The trace-element concentrations in the reservoir water column meet the standards established by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission.

Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Albuquerque NTMS Quadrangle, New Mexico, including concentrations of forty-three additional elements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maassen, L.W.; Bolivar, S.L.

1979-06-01

The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory conducted a hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance for uranium. Totals of 408 water and 1538 sediment samples were collected from 1802 locations over a 20 100-km/sup 2/ area at an average density of one location per 11 km/sup 2/. Water samples were collected from springs, wells, and streams; sediments samples were collected predominantly from streams, but also from springs. All water samples were analyzed for uranium and 12 other elements. Sediment samples were analyzed for uranium and 42 additional elements. The uranium concentrations in water samples range from below the detection limit of 0.02 ppBmore » to 194.06 ppB. The mean uranium concentration for all water types containing < 40 ppB uranium is 1.98 ppB. Six samples contained uranium concentrations > 40.00 ppB. Well waters have the highest mean uranium concentration; spring waters have the lowest. Clusters of water samples that contain anomalous uranium concentrations are delineated in nine areas. Sediments collected from the quadrangle have uranium concentrations that range between 0.63 ppM and 28.52 ppM, with a mean for all sediments of 3.53 ppM. Eight areas containing clusters of sediments with anomalous uranium concentrations are delineated. One cluster contains sample locations within the Ambrosia Lake uranium district. Five clusters of sediment samples with anomalous uranium concentrations were collected from streams that drain the Jemez volcanic field. Another cluster defines an area just northeast of Albuquerque where streams drain Precambrian rocks, predominantly granites, of the Sandia Mountains. The last cluster, consisting of spring sediments from Mesa Portales, was collected near the contact of the Tertiary Ojo Alamo sandstone with underlying Cretaceous sediments. Sediments from these springs exhibit some of the highest uranium values reported and are associated with high uranium/thorium ratios.« less

The effect of acidified sample storage time on the determination of trace element concentration in ice cores by ICP-SFMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uglietti, C.; Gabrielli, P.; Lutton, A.; Olesik, J.; Thompson, L. G.

2012-12-01

Trace elements in micro-particles entrapped in ice cores are a valuable proxy of past climate and environmental variations. Inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) is generally recognized as a sensitive and accurate technique for the quantification of ultra-trace element concentrations in ice cores. Usually, ICP-SFMS analyses of ice core samples are performed by melting and acidifying aliquots. Acidification is important to transfer trace elements from particles into solution by partial and/or complete dissolution. Only elements in solution and in sufficiently small particles will be vaporized and converted to elemental ions in the plasma for detection by ICP-SFMS. However, experimental results indicate that differences in acidified sample storage time at room temperature may lead to the recovery of different trace element fractions. Moreover, different lithologies of the relatively abundant crustal material entrapped in the ice matrix could also influence the fraction of trace elements that are converted into elemental ions in the plasma. These factors might affect the determination of trace elements concentrations in ice core samples and hamper the comparison of results obtained from ice cores from different locations and/or epochs. In order to monitor the transfer of elements from particles into solution in acidified melted ice core samples during storage, a test was performed on sections from nine ice cores retrieved from low latitude drilling sites around the world. When compared to ice cores from polar regions, these samples are characterized by a relative high content of micro-particles that may leach trace elements into solution differently. Of the nine ice cores, five are from the Tibetan Plateau (Dasuopu, Guliya, Naimonanyi, Puruogangri and Dunde), two from the Andes (Quelccaya and Huascaran), one from Africa (Kilimanjaro) and one from the Eastern Alps (Ortles). These samples were decontaminated by triple rinsing, melted and stored in pre-cleaned low-density polyethylene bottles, and kept frozen until acidification (2% v/v ultra-pure HNO3). Determination of twenty trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn) was repeated at different times after acidification using the same aliquot. Analyses show a mean increase of 40-50% in trace element concentration in all the samples during the first 15 days of storage after acidification, except Al, Fe, V and Cr, which show a larger increase (90-100%). After 15 days the trace element concentrations reach generally stable values (with small increases within measurement uncertainty), except for the Naimonanyi and Kilimanjaro samples which continue to increase. In contrast, Ag concentration decreases after one week, likely due to its low stability in the acidified solution that may depend on the Cl- concentration. We froze the samples 43 days after the acidification. After two weeks the samples were melted and re-analyzed by ICP-SFMS in two different laboratories as an inter-calibration exercise. The results show a good correspondence between the measured concentrations determined by the two instruments and a consistent additional increase of 20-30% of measured trace element concentrations in almost all samples.

Reanalysis of a 15-year Archive of IMPROVE Samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyslop, N. P.; White, W. H.; Trzepla, K.

2013-12-01

The IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environments) network monitors aerosol concentrations at 170 remote sites throughout the United States. Twenty-four-hour filter samples of particulate matter are collected every third day and analyzed for chemical composition. About 30 of the sites have operated continuously since 1988, and the sustained data record (http://views.cira.colostate.edu/web/) offers a unique window on regional aerosol trends. All elemental analyses have been performed by Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at the University of California in Davis, and sample filters collected since 1995 are archived on campus. The suite of reported elements has remained constant, but the analytical methods employed for their determination have evolved. For example, the elements Na - Mn were determined by PIXE until November 2001, then by XRF analysis in a He-flushed atmosphere through 2004, and by XRF analysis in vacuum since January 2005. In addition to these fundamental changes, incompletely-documented operational factors such as detector performance and calibration details have introduced variations in the measurements. Because the past analytical methods were non-destructive, the archived filters can be re-analyzed with the current analytical systems and protocols. The 15-year sample archives from Great Smoky Mountains, Mount Rainier, and Point Reyes National Parks were selected for reanalysis. The agreement between the new analyses and original determinations varies with element and analytical era (Figure 1). Temporal trends for some elements are affected by these changes in measurement technique while others are not (Figure 2). Figure 1. Repeatability of analyses for sulfur and vanadium at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each point shows the ratio of mass loadings determined by the original analysis and recent reanalysis. Major method distinctions are indicated at the top. Figure 2. Trends, based on Thiel-Sen regression, in lead concentrations based on the original and reanalysis data.

Contents of chemical elements in stomach during prenatal development: different age-dependent dynamical changes and their significance

PubMed Central

Hou, Shao-Fan; Li, Hai-Rong; Wang, Li-Zhen; Li, De-Zhu; Yang, Lin-Sheng; Li, Chong-Zheng

2003-01-01

AIM: To observe dynamic of different chemical elements in stomach tissue during fetal development. METHODS: To determine contents of the 21 chemical elements in each stomach samples from fetus aging four to ten months. The content values were compared to those from adult tissue samples, and the values for each month group were also analyzed for dynamic changes. RESULTS: Three representations were found regarding the relationship between contents of the elements and ages of the fetus, including the positive correlative (K), reversely correlative (Na, Ca, P, Al, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr, Sr, Li, Cd, Ba, Se) and irrelevant groups (Mg, Co, Ni, V, Pb, Ti). CONCLUSION: The chemical elements’ contents in stomach tissues were found to change dynamically with the stomach weights. The age-dependent representations for different chemical elements during the prenatal development may be of some significance for assessing development of fetal stomach and some chemical elements. The data may be helpful for the nutritional balance of fetus and mothers during prenatal development and even the perinatal stages. PMID:12717857

Baseline study on essential and trace elements in polished rice from South Korea.

PubMed

Jung, Myung Chae; Yun, Seong-Taek; Lee, Jin-Soo; Lee, Jong-Un

2005-09-01

In 2000, 63 (polished) white rice samples were collected in eight administrative areas all over South Korea and analyzed for 16 elements by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Potassium had the highest content, next to Mg, Ca, Si, Zn, Na, Al and Fe. Most of the samples contained worldwide average concentrations of essential and trace elements in rice grains reported by various researches. For inter-area differences in those elements in the rice, the statistical analysis showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the eight administrative areas, suggesting that inter-area differences were not substantial in most cases. Thus, the present data can be used as national background levels of elements in rice produced in South Korea. Using the published data on daily consumption of rice in South Korea, it was possible to estimate the daily intake of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn via rice. The results showed that a regular consumption of rice produced in Korea plays an important role in accumulation of essential and trace elements in Korean, especially for farm-households consuming relatively large amounts of rice.

A geochemical atlas of South Carolina--an example using data from the National Geochemical Survey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sutphin, David M.

2005-01-01

National Geochemical Survey data from stream-sediment and soil samples, which have been analyzed using consistent methods, were used to create maps, graphs, and tables that were assembled in a consistent atlas format that characterizes the distribution of major and trace chemical elements in South Carolina. Distribution patterns of the elements in South Carolina may assist mineral exploration, agriculture, waste-disposal-siting issues, health, environmental, and other studies. This atlas is an example of how data from the National Geochemical Survey may be used to identify general or regional patterns of elemental occurrences and to provide a snapshot of element concentration in smaller areas.

Geochemical and mineralogical maps for soils of the conterminous United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, David B.; Cannon, William F.; Woodruff, Laurel G.; Solano, Federico; Ellefsen, Karl J.

2014-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey began sampling in 2007 for a low-density (1 site per 1,600 square kilometers, 4,857 sites) geochemical and mineralogical survey of soils in the conterminous United States as part of the North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project. The sampling protocol for the national-scale survey included, at each site, a sample from a depth of 0 to 5 centimeters, a composite of the soil A horizon, and a deeper sample from the soil C horizon or, if the top of the C horizon was at a depth greater than 1 meter, a sample from a depth of approximately 80–100 centimeters. The <2-millimeter fraction of each sample was analyzed for a suite of 45 major and trace elements by methods that yield the total or near-total elemental content. The major mineralogical components in the samples from the soil A and C horizons were determined by a quantitative X-ray diffraction method using Rietveld refinement. Sampling in the conterminous United States was completed in 2010, with chemical and mineralogical analyses completed in May 2013. The resulting data set provides an estimate of the abundance and spatial distribution of chemical elements and minerals in soils of the conterminous United States and represents a baseline for soil geochemistry and mineralogy against which future changes may be recognized and quantified. This report releases geochemical and mineralogical maps along with a histogram, boxplot, and empirical cumulative distribution function plot for each element or mineral.

Stream-sediment samples reanalyzed for major, rare earth, and trace elements from seven 1:250,000-scale quadrangles, south-central Alaska, 2007-09

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gamble, Bruce M.; Bailey, Elizabeth A.; Shew, Nora B.; Labay, Keith A.; Schmidt, Jeanine M.; O'Leary, Richard M.; Detra, David E.

2010-01-01

During the 1960s through the 1980s, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted reconnaissance geochemical surveys of drainage basins throughout most of the Iliamna, Lake Clark, Lime Hills, and Talkeetna 1:250,000-scale quadrangles and parts of the McGrath, Seldovia, and Tyonek 1:250,000-scale quadrangles in Alaska. These geochemical surveys provide data necessary to assess the potential for undiscovered mineral resources and provide data that may be used to determine regional-scale element baselines. This report provides new data for 1,075 of the previously collected stream-sediment samples. The new analyses include a broader spectrum of elements and provide data that are more precise than the original analyses. All samples were analyzed for arsenic by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry, for gold, palladium, and platinum by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after lead button fire assay separation, and for a suite of 55 major, rare earth, and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after sodium peroxide sinter at 450 degrees Celsius.

Method for analyzing soil structure according to the size of structural elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wieland, Ralf; Rogasik, Helmut

2015-02-01

The soil structure in situ is the result of cropping history and soil development over time. It can be assessed by the size distribution of soil structural elements such as air-filled macro-pores, aggregates and stones, which are responsible for important water and solute transport processes, gas exchange, and the stability of the soil against compacting and shearing forces exerted by agricultural machinery. A method was developed to detect structural elements of the soil in selected horizontal slices of soil core samples with different soil structures in order for them to be implemented accordingly. In the second step, a fitting tool (Eureqa) based on artificial programming was used to find a general function to describe ordered sets of detected structural elements. It was shown that all the samples obey a hyperbolic function: Y(k) = A /(B + k) , k ∈ { 0 , 1 , 2 , … }. This general behavior can be used to develop a classification method based on parameters {A and B}. An open source software program in Python was developed, which can be downloaded together with a selection of soil samples.

Stable isotope dilution analysis of hydrologic samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

USGS Publications Warehouse

Garbarino, John R.; Taylor, Howard E.

1987-01-01

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is employed in the determination of Ni, Cu, Sr, Cd, Ba, Ti, and Pb in nonsaline, natural water samples by stable isotope dilution analysis. Hydrologic samples were directly analyzed without any unusual pretreatment. Interference effects related to overlapping isobars, formation of metal oxide and multiply charged ions, and matrix composition were identified and suitable methods of correction evaluated. A comparability study snowed that single-element isotope dilution analysis was only marginally better than sequential multielement isotope dilution analysis. Accuracy and precision of the single-element method were determined on the basis of results obtained for standard reference materials. The instrumental technique was shown to be ideally suited for programs associated with certification of standard reference materials.

Data precision of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning of discrete samples with the ITRAX XRF core-scanner exemplified on loess-paleosol samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Profe, Jörn; Ohlendorf, Christian

2017-04-01

XRF-scanning is the state-of-the-art technique for geochemical analyses in marine and lacustrine sedimentology for more than a decade. However, little attention has been paid to data precision and technical limitations so far. Using homogenized, dried and powdered samples (certified geochemical reference standards and samples from a lithologically-contrasting loess-paleosol sequence) minimizes many adverse effects that influence the XRF-signal when analyzing wet sediment cores. This allows the investigation of data precision under ideal conditions and documents a new application of the XRF core-scanner technology at the same time. Reliable interpretations of XRF results require data precision evaluation of single elements as a function of X-ray tube, measurement time, sample compaction and quality of peak fitting. Ten-fold measurement of each sample constitutes data precision. Data precision of XRF measurements theoretically obeys Poisson statistics. Fe and Ca exhibit largest deviations from Poisson statistics. The same elements show the least mean relative standard deviations in the range from 0.5% to 1%. This represents the technical limit of data precision achievable by the installed detector. Measurement times ≥ 30 s reveal mean relative standard deviations below 4% for most elements. The quality of peak fitting is only relevant for elements with overlapping fluorescence lines such as Ba, Ti and Mn or for elements with low concentrations such as Y, for example. Differences in sample compaction are marginal and do not change mean relative standard deviation considerably. Data precision is in the range reported for geochemical reference standards measured by conventional techniques. Therefore, XRF scanning of discrete samples provide a cost- and time-efficient alternative to conventional multi-element analyses. As best trade-off between economical operation and data quality, we recommend a measurement time of 30 s resulting in a total scan time of 30 minutes for 30 samples.

Chemistry and origin of minor and trace elements in selected vitrinite concentrates from bituminous and anthracitic coals

USGS Publications Warehouse

Palmer, C.A.; Lyons, P.C.

1990-01-01

Twelve hand-picked vitrinite concentrates and companion whole-coal samples were analyzed for trace and minor elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and direct-current-arc spectrographic techniques (DCAS). The vitrinite concentrates contained 94 to nearly 100 vol.% vitrinite compared to 71-95 vol.% in the companion whole coals. The ash contents of the vitrinite concentrates were 2 to more than 190 times less than the ash contents of the companion whole coals. Organic and inorganic affinities were determined by comparing the elemental concentrations in the vitrinite concentrates to the concentrations in the companion whole coals. The ratios of these concentrations for 33 selected elements are shown in Figure 1. Ratios greater than 1 indicate organic affinity, and ratios less than 1 indicate inorganic affinity. Br and W generally showed organic affinity in all samples in this study. In the nine samples from the eastern United States (Fig. 1A-C) less than one-fourth of the trace elements show organic affinity compared to nearly one-half for the three English and Australian samples (Fig. 1D). The elements that generally show organic affinity in the non-U.S.A. samples studied include As, Cs, Hf, and Ni, which have generally inorganic affinities in the U.S.A. samples, and Cr, Sb, Se, and U, which have mixed (both organic and inorganic) affinities, in the U.S.A. coals studied, has an inorganic affinity in the English coals studied. B shows organic affinity in the samples from the Illinois basin (Fig. 1C). For the samples studied, Ba shows organic affinity in the Appalachian basin bituminous coals (Fig. 1B), inorganic affinity in the Illinois basin coals, and overall mixed affinities. In all the samples studied, Cu, Mn, Na, Sr, Ta, V, and Zn show mixed affinities, and A1, Co, Eu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Mg, Sc, Si, Th, Ti, and Ub have generally inorganic affinity. ?? 1990.

Changes in oxidative potential of soil and fly ash after reaction with gaseous nitric acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, Ying; Ginder-Vogel, Matthew; Shafer, Martin M.; Rudich, Yinon; Pardo, Michal; Katra, Itzhak; Katoshevski, David; Schauer, James J.

2018-01-01

The goal of this study was to examine the impact of simulated atmospheric aging on the oxidative potential of inorganic aerosols comprised primarily of crustal materials. Four soil samples and one coal fly ash sample were artificially aged in the laboratory through exposure to the vapor from 15.8 M nitric acid solution for 24 h at room temperature. Native and acid-aged samples were analyzed with a cellular macrophage and acellular dithionthreitol assays to determine oxidative potential. Additionally, the samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of 50 elements, both total and the water-soluble fraction of these elements by Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SF-ICMS) and crystalline mineral composition using X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The results show that reactions with gaseous nitric acid increase the water-soluble fraction of many elements, including calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and lead. The mineral composition analysis documented that calcium-rich minerals present in the soils (e.g., calcite) are converted into different chemical forms, such as calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2). The nitric acid aging process, which can occur in the atmosphere, leads to a 200-600% increase in oxidative potential, as measured by cellular and acellular assays. This laboratory study demonstrates that the toxic effects of aged versus freshly emitted atmospheric dust may be quite different. In addition, the results suggest that mineralogical analysis of atmospheric dust may be useful in understanding its degree of aging.

Preservation of REE and Fe isotopes in altered stromatolites and the paleo-environmental record

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nies, S. M.; Shapiro, R. S.; Lalonde, S.

2015-12-01

Geochemical proxies are increasingly being used to unravel ancient ecosystems and environmental perturbations back to the earliest rock record on Earth. Along with more traditional fossils (stromatolites) and other biosignatures (e.g., lipids), the geochemical record is used specifically to evaluate biogenecity and to understand oxygenation of the atmosphere and ocean in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic. However, the effects of diagenesis, metamorphism, and other modes of secondary alteration are still poorly constrained, particularly as technological advances allow us to expand farther across the periodic table. Our study focused on the robustness and preservation of rare earth element (REE) and Fe isotope compositions of two stromatolitic units that have undergone contact and regional metamorphism. 18 samples were collected from cores, open pit mines, and field locations in Minnesota and Ontario from silicified iron formation (Biwabik-Gunflint formations). The samples were carefully constrained to one of two meter-scale stromatolitic units. Metamorphic grade ranged from essentially unmetamorphosed through prehnite-pumpellyite up to amphibolite (fayalite+hypersthene). Samples were also collected that represented deep secondary weathering, likely related to Cretaceous climatic extremes. Polished samples were first analyzed by electron microprobe and selected samples were further analyzed via laser ablation HR-ICP-MS to constrain trace element (n=13) and Fe isotopic variations (n=8). Preliminary results indicate that transition metal concentrations are surprisingly resilient to high-temperature metamorphic recrystallization. REE concentrations were analyzed in individual iron oxide grains, with full resolution (La to Lu) achieved for some samples and partial resolution (La to Nd) achieved for all samples. Core samples exhibited a relatively stable positive Ce anomaly occurring from low to extremely high alteration. Outcrop and mine samples indicate a shift from a negative Ce anomaly in less altered samples, to a positive Ce anomaly in highly altered samples. Collectively, our results imply that caution is warranted when making paleo-environmental inferences from samples with significantly different alteration histories.

Occurrence, distribution, and concentrations of selected contaminants in streambed- and suspended-sediment samples collected in Bexar County, Texas, 2007-09

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, Jennifer T.

2011-01-01

High concentrations of sediment-associated contaminants are typically associated with urban areas such as San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County, the seventh most populous city in the United States. U.S. Geological Survey personnel periodically collected surficial streambed-sediment samples during 2007-09 and collected suspended-sediment samples from selected streams after storms during 2008 and 2009. All sediment samples were analyzed for major and trace elements, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Granitic rocks within Lichen Hills, Outback Nunatak, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

KIM, T.; KIM, Y.; Lee, I.; Lee, J.; Woo, J.

2015-12-01

The study areas, Lichen Hills and Outback Nunatak are located in the Northern Victoria Land which is close to Pacific Ocean side of Transantarctic Mountain (TAM), Antarctica. According to the study of Zeller and Dreschoff (1990), the radioactivity values of Lichen hills and Frontier Mt. area in the Victoria Land were very high. To identify the geochemical characteristics of granitic rocks in these areas, 13 samples of Lichen Hills rocks and 4 samples of Outback Nunatak rocks are analyzed. For mineralogical study, samples were observed in macroscale as well as microscale including microscope electron probe analysis. Rock samples of Lichen Hills, Outback Nunatak are mainly leucogranite and granitic pegmatite. These rock samples are composed of quartz, k-feldspar, plagioclase, muscovite, garnet, tourmaline like granite. In SEM-EDS analysis, the observed light colored minerals show relatively high Th, U, Dy, Ce, Nb concentration. This suggests that rock samples may contain minerals such as fergusonite, monazite, thorite, allanite, karnasurtite which are considered to be REE-bearing minerals. Samples of related rocks have been analyzed in terms of major, trace and rare earth element (REE) concentrations using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). As concentration of SiO2 increase, Al2O3, TiO2, Fe2O3, MgO, P2O5 concentration decrease and Na2O, K2O, MnO concentration increase. Analyzed trace elements and REE are normalized using CI Chondrite, Primitive mantle. The normalized data show that LREE are enriched compared to HREE. The distinct negative anomalies of Eu, Sr are observed, indicating that rock-forming melts are fairly processed state of fractional crystallization. It means that Th, U, Nb, Ta are much enriched in the melts.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for specimen analysis

DOEpatents

Kumar, Akshaya; Yu-Yueh, Fang; Burgess, Shane C.; Singh, Jagdish P.

2006-08-15

The present invention is directed to an apparatus, a system and a method for detecting the presence or absence of trace elements in a biological sample using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. The trace elements are used to develop a signature profile which is analyzed directly or compared with the known profile of a standard. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus, system and method are used to detect malignant cancer cells in vivo.

Seasonal investigation of trace element contents in commercially valuable fish species from the Black sea, Turkey.

PubMed

Mendil, Durali; Demirci, Zafer; Tuzen, Mustafa; Soylak, Mustafa

2010-03-01

Fish species (Sarda sarda, Mulus barbatus ponticus, Trachurus trachurus and Merlangius merlangus) were collected from the Black sea, Turkey between 2008 and 2009 (spring, summer, autumn and winter). The samples were analyzed using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion. The maximum metal concentrations were found to be as 25.5-41.4 microg/g (Fe), 17.8-25.7 microg/g (Zn), 0.28-0.64 microg/g (Pb), 0.64-0.99 microg/g (Cr), 1.3-3.6 microg/g (Mn), 1.4-1.9 microg/g (Cu), 0.18-0.35 microg/g (Cd) and 0.25-0.42 microg/g (Co) for fish species. The concentration of trace metals in samples is depended on fish species. Some species is accumulated trace metals at high ratio. Trace element levels in analyzed fish species were acceptable to human consumption at nutritional and toxic levels. The levels of lead and cadmium in fish samples were higher than the recommended legal limits. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

METHODS FOR DETERMINING SMALL AMOUNTS OF NIOBIUM AND TANTALUM IN ORES (in Russian)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bykova, V.S.; Skrizhinskaya, V.I.

1960-01-01

Several current colorimetric methods for determining Nb and Ta were evaluated by comparing the results obtained from analyzing artificial mixtures and minerals, such as loparite, tantalite-columbite, perovskite, pyrochlore, cassiterite-tantalite and Ti-bearing minerals such as sphene. A modification of the thiosulfate method had a sensitivity of 0.05% Nb and was found useful when the sample contained less than 1% Ti. The dimethyl fluorene method for Ta was sensitive to 0.002% and could be used only if most of the Ti was previously removed from the sample. The pyrogallol extraction method, based on the extraction of complex Ta fluoride wtth cyclohexane, presentedmore » a sensitivity of 0.01% of Ta, similar to the pyrogallol-tannin method used for both elements. If their concentration is smaller, the samples must be analyzed subsequently according to the first two methods. The absorption method allows a determination of the two elements without separating them, if their concentration is higher than 0.5%, although the individual sensitivity of the method is 0.05% for Ta and 0.005% for Nb. (TTT)« less

μ-SRXRF characterization of Brazilian emeralds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curado, J. F.; Radtke, M.; Buzanich, G.; Reinholz, U.; Riesemeier, H.; Guttler, R. A. S.; Rizzutto, M. A.

2014-04-01

The aim of the present study is to characterize emeralds from different mines of Brazil by using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence Microanalysis (μ-SRXRF). The advantage of this technique is that we can analyze a homogeneous, inclusion free area of the stone with the microbeam to distinguish the elemental fingerprint according to the provenance of the emerald. A total of 47 samples belonging to 5 different Brazilian mines were studied in this work and 28 elements were identified. By means of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) it is possible to build different groups according to the provenance of the stones, which allows to assign samples of unknown origin to the according mine.

Polonium-210 analyses of vegetables, cured and uncured tobacco, and associated soils.

PubMed

Berger, K C; Erhardt, W H; Francis, C W

1965-12-24

Analysis of the edible portion of vegetables and samples of green leaf tobacco failed to show polonium-210. The cured samples of leaf tobacco and the soils that were analyzed all contained small quantities of the element. Muck soils contained three times as much Po(210) as did mineral soils. Solutions used commonly to extract "available" forms of many mineral elements failed to extract a detectable amount of Po(2l0). Indications are that Po(210) or its radioactive precursors are not taken up from the soil directly by plant roots but rather by sorption in dead, moist plant materials at the atmosphere-plant interface.

Influence of an igneous intrusion on the inorganic geochemistry of a bituminous coal from Pitkin County, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Finkelman, R.B.; Bostick, N.H.; Dulong, F.T.; Senftle, F.E.; Thorpe, A.N.

1998-01-01

Although the effects of igneous dikes on the organic matter in coal have been observed at many localities there is virtually no information on the effects of the intrusions of the inorganic constituents in the coal. Such a study may help to elucidate the behavior of trace elements during in situ gasification of coal and may provide insights into the resources potential for coal and coke affected by the intrusion. To determine the effects of an igneous intrusion on the inorganic chemistry of a coal we used a series of 11 samples of coal and natural coke that had been collected at intervals from 3 to 106 cm from a dike that intruded the bituminous Dutch Creek coal in Pitkin, CO. The samples were chemically analyzed for 66 elements. SEM-EDX and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed on selected samples. Volatile elements such as F, Cl, Hg, and Se are not depleted in the samples (coke and coal) nearest the dike that were exposed to the highest temperatures. Their presence in these samples is likely due to secondary enrichment following volatilization of the elements inherent in the coal. Equilibration with ground water may account for the uniform distribution of Na, B, and Cl. High concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Sr, and CO2 in the coke region are attributed to the reaction of CO and CO2 generated during the coking of the coal with fluids from the intrusion, resulting in the precipitation of carbonates. Similarly, precipitation of sulfide minerals in the coke zone may account for the relatively high concentrations of Ag, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Fe. Most elements are concentrated at the juncture of the fluidized coke and the thermally metamorphosed coal. Many of the elements enriched in this region (for example, Ga, Ge, Mo, Rb, U, La, Ce, Al, K, and Si) may have been adsorbed on either the clays or the organic matter or on both.Although the effects of igneous dikes on the organic matter in coal have been observed at many localities there is virtually no information on the effects of the intrusions on the inorganic constituents in the coal. Such a study may help to elucidate the behavior of trace elements during in situ gasification of coal and may provide insights into the resource potential of coal and coke affected by the intrusion. To determine the effects of an igneous intrusion on the inorganic chemistry of a coal we used a series of 11 samples of coal and natural coke that had been collected at intervals from 3 to 106 cm from a dike that intruded the bituminous Dutch Creek coal in Pitkin, CO. The samples were chemically analyzed for 66 elements. SEM-EDX and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed on selected samples. Volatile elements such as F, Cl, Hg, and Se are not depleted in the samples (coke and coal) nearest the dike that were exposed to the highest temperatures. Their presence in these samples is likely due to secondary enrichment following volatilization of the elements inherent in the coal. Equilibration with ground water may account for the uniform distribution of Na, B, and Cl. High concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Sr, and CO2 in the coke region are attributed to the reaction of CO and CO2 generated during the coking of the coal with fluids from the intrusion, resulting in the precipitation of carbonates. Similarly, precipitation of sulfide minerals in the coke zone may account for the relatively high concentrations of Ag, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Fe. Most elements are concentrated at the juncture of the fluidized coke and the thermally metamorphosed coal. Many of the elements enriched in this region (for example, Ga, Ge, Mo, Rb, U, La, Ce, Al, K, and Si) may have been adsorbed on either the clays or the organic matter or on both.

Analysis of elemental concentration censored distributions in breast malignant and breast benign neoplasm tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubala-Kukuś, A.; Banaś, D.; Braziewicz, J.; Góźdź, S.; Majewska, U.; Pajek, M.

2007-07-01

The total reflection X-ray fluorescence method was applied to study the trace element concentrations in human breast malignant and breast benign neoplasm tissues taken from the women who were patients of Holycross Cancer Centre in Kielce (Poland). These investigations were mainly focused on the development of new possibilities of cancer diagnosis and therapy monitoring. This systematic comparative study was based on relatively large (˜ 100) population studied, namely 26 samples of breast malignant and 68 samples of breast benign neoplasm tissues. The concentrations, being in the range from a few ppb to 0.1%, were determined for thirteen elements (from P to Pb). The results were carefully analysed to investigate the concentration distribution of trace elements in the studied samples. The measurements of concentration of trace elements by total reflection X-ray fluorescence were limited, however, by the detection limit of the method. It was observed that for more than 50% of elements determined, the concentrations were not measured in all samples. These incomplete measurements were treated within the statistical concept called left-random censoring and for the estimation of the mean value and median of censored concentration distributions, the Kaplan-Meier estimator was used. For comparison of concentrations in two populations, the log-rank test was applied, which allows to compare the censored total reflection X-ray fluorescence data. Found statistically significant differences are discussed in more details. It is noted that described data analysis procedures should be the standard tool to analyze the censored concentrations of trace elements analysed by X-ray fluorescence methods.

Determination of wear metals in engine oil by mild acid digestion and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry using solid phase extraction disks.

PubMed

Yang, Zheng; Hou, Xiandeng; Jones, Bradley T

2003-03-10

A simple, particle size-independent spectrometric method has been developed for the multi-element determination of wear metals in used engine oil. A small aliquot (0.5 ml) of an acid-digested oil sample is spotted onto a C-18 solid phase extraction disk to form a uniform thin film. The dried disk is then analyzed directly by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. This technique provides a homogeneous and reproducible sample surface to the instrument, thus overcoming the typical problems associated with uneven particle size distribution and sedimentation. As a result, the method provides higher precision and accuracy than conventional methods. Furthermore, the disk sample may be stored and re-analyzed or extracted at a later date. The signals arising from the spotted disks, and the calibration curves constructed from them, are stable for at least 2 months. The limits of detection for Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr are 5, 1, 4, 2, and 4 microg g(-1), respectively. Recoveries of these elements from spiked oil samples range from 92 to 110%. The analysis of two standard reference materials and a used oil sample produced results comparable to those found by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

Improved accuracy and precision in δ15 NAIR measurements of explosives, urea, and inorganic nitrates by elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometry using thermal decomposition.

PubMed

Lott, Michael J; Howa, John D; Chesson, Lesley A; Ehleringer, James R

2015-08-15

Elemental analyzer systems generate N(2) and CO(2) for elemental composition and isotope ratio measurements. As quantitative conversion of nitrogen in some materials (i.e., nitrate salts and nitro-organic compounds) is difficult, this study tests a recently published method - thermal decomposition without the addition of O(2) - for the analysis of these materials. Elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS) was used to compare the traditional combustion method (CM) and the thermal decomposition method (TDM), where additional O(2) is eliminated from the reaction. The comparisons used organic and inorganic materials with oxidized and/or reduced nitrogen and included ureas, nitrate salts, ammonium sulfate, nitro esters, and nitramines. Previous TDM applications were limited to nitrate salts and ammonium sulfate. The measurement precision and accuracy were compared to determine the effectiveness of converting materials containing different fractions of oxidized nitrogen into N(2). The δ(13) C(VPDB) values were not meaningfully different when measured via CM or TDM, allowing for the analysis of multiple elements in one sample. For materials containing oxidized nitrogen, (15) N measurements made using thermal decomposition were more precise than those made using combustion. The precision was similar between the methods for materials containing reduced nitrogen. The %N values were closer to theoretical when measured by TDM than by CM. The δ(15) N(AIR) values of purchased nitrate salts and ureas were nearer to the known values when analyzed using thermal decomposition than using combustion. The thermal decomposition method addresses insufficient recovery of nitrogen during elemental analysis in a variety of organic and inorganic materials. Its implementation requires relatively few changes to the elemental analyzer. Using TDM, it is possible to directly calibrate certain organic materials to international nitrate isotope reference materials without off-line preparation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Moving beyond the van Krevelen Diagram: A New Stoichiometric Approach for Compound Classification in Organisms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rivas-Ubach, Albert; Liu, Yina; Bianchi, Thomas S.

van Krevelen diagrams (O:C vs H:C ratios of elemental formulas) have been widely used in studies to obtain an estimation of the main compound categories present in environmental samples. However, the limits defining a specific compound category based solely on O:C and H:C ratios of elemental formulas have never been accurately listed or proposed to classify metabolites in biological samples. Furthermore, while O:C vs. H:C ratios of elemental formulas can provide an overview of the compound categories, such classification is inefficient because of the large overlap among different compound categories along both axes. We propose a more accurate compound classificationmore » for biological samples analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry-based on an assessment of the C:H:O:N:P stoichiometric ratios of over 130,000 elemental formulas of compounds classified in 6 main categories: lipids, peptides, amino-sugars, carbohydrates, nucleotides and phytochemical compounds (oxy-aromatic compounds). Our multidimensional stoichiometric compound classification (MSCC) constraints showed a highly accurate categorization of elemental formulas to the main compound categories in biological samples with over 98% of accuracy representing a substantial improvement over any classification based on the classic van Krevelen diagram. This method represents a significant step forward in environmental research, especially ecological stoichiometry and eco-metabolomics studies, by providing a novel and robust tool to further our understanding the ecosystem structure and function through the chemical characterization of different biological samples.« less

Trace element geochemistry of volcanic gases and particles from 1983--1984 eruptive episodes of Kilauea volcano

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crowe, B.M.; Finnegan, D.L.; Zoller, W.H.

1987-12-10

Compositional data have been obtained for volcanic gases and particles collected from fume emitted at the Pu'u O'o vent on the east rift zone of Kilauea volcano. The samples were collected by pumping fume through a filter pack system consisting of a front stage particulate filter followed by four base-treated filters (/sup 7/LiOH). Particles and condensed phases are trapped on the particulate filter, and acidic gases are collected on the treated filters. The filters are analyzed for 30 elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Fume samples were collected from the Pu'u O'o vent for two eruptive episodes: (1) 7 daysmore » after episode 11 (cooling vent samples) and (2) the stage of episode 13 (active vent samples).« less

Electron-probe microanalysis of light elements in coal and other kerogen

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bustin, R.M.; Mastalerz, Maria; Raudsepp, M.

1996-01-01

Recent advances in electron microprobe technology including development of layered synthetic microstructures, more stable electronics and better matrix-correction programs facilitated routine microanalysis of the light elements in coal. Utilizing an appropriately equipped electron microprobe with suitable standards, it is now possible to analyze directly the light elements (C, O and N, if abundant) in coal macerals and other kerogen. The analytical results are both accurate compared to ASTM methods and highly precise, and provide an opportunity to access the variation in coal chemistry at the micrometre scale. Our experiments show that analyses using a 10 kV accelerating voltage and 10 nA beam current yield the most reliable data and result in minimum sample damage and contamination. High sample counts were obtained for C, O and N using a bi-elemental nickel-carbon pseudo-crystal (2d = 9.5 nm) as an analyzing crystal. Vitrinite isolated from anthracite rank coal proves the best carbon standard and is more desirable than graphite which has higher porosity, whereas lower rank vitrinite is too heterogeneous to use routinely as a standard. Other standards utilized were magnesite for oxygen and BN for nitrogen. No significant carbon, oxygen or nitrogen X-ray peak shifts or peak-shape changes occur between standards and the kerogen analyzed. Counting rates for carbon and oxygen were found to be constant over a range of beam sizes and currents for counting times up to 160 s. Probe-determined carbon and oxygen contents agree closely with those reported from ASTM analyses. Nitrogen analyses compare poorly to ASTM values which probably is in response to overlap between the nitrogen Ka peak with the carbon K-adsorption edge and the overall low nitrogen content of most of our samples. Our results show that the electron microprobe technique provides accurate compositional data for both minor and major elements in coal without the necessity and inherent problems associated with mechanically isolating macerals. Studies to date have demonstrated the level of compositional variability within and between macerals in suites of Canadian coals.

Concentration of stable elements in food products

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Montford, M.A.; Shank, K.E.; Hendricks, C.

1980-01-01

Food samples were taken from commercial markets and analyzed for stable element content. The concentrations of most stable elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hf, I, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Ta, Th, Ti, V, Zn, Zr) were determined using multiple-element neutron activation analysis, while the concentrations of other elements (Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb) were determined using atomic absorption. The relevance of the concentrations found are noted in relation to other literature values. An earlier study was extended to include the determination of the concentrationmore » of stable elements in home-grown products in the vicinity of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Comparisons between the commercial and local food-stuff values are discussed.« less

Fractionation of the platinum-group elments and Re during crystallization of basalt in Kilauea Iki Lava Lake, Hawaii

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pitcher, L.; Helz, R.T.; Walker, R.J.; Piccoli, P.

2009-01-01

Kilauea Iki lava lake formed during the 1959 summit eruption of Kilauea Volcano, then crystallized and differentiated over a period of 35??years. It offers an opportunity to evaluate the fractionation behavior of trace elements in a uniquely well-documented basaltic system. A suite of 14 core samples recovered from 1967 to 1981 has been analyzed for 5 platinum-group elements (PGE: Ir, Os, Ru, Pt, Pd), plus Re. These samples have MgO ranging from 2.4 to 26.9??wt.%, with temperatures prior to quench ranging from 1140????C to ambient (110????C). Five eruption samples were also analyzed. Osmium and Ru concentrations vary by nearly four orders of magnitude (0.0006-1.40??ppb for Os and 0.0006-2.01??ppb for Ru) and are positively correlated with MgO content. These elements behaved compatibly during crystallization, mostly likely being concentrated in trace phases (alloy or sulfide) present in olivine phenocrysts or included chromite. Iridium also correlates positively with MgO, although less strongly than Os and Ru. The somewhat poorer correlation for Ir, compared with Os and Ru, may reflect variable loss of Ir as volatile IrF6 in some of the most magnesian samples. Rhenium is negatively correlated with MgO, behaving as an incompatible trace element. Its behavior in the lava lake is complicated by apparent volatile loss of Re, as suggested by a decrease in Re concentration with time of quenching for lake samples vs. eruption samples. Platinum and Pd concentrations are negatively, albeit weakly, correlated with MgO, so these elements were modestly incompatible during crystallization of the major silicate phases. Palladium contents peaked before precipitation of immiscible sulfide liquid, however, and decline sharply in the most differentiated samples. In contrast, Pt appears to have been unaffected by sulfide precipitation. Microprobe data confirm that Pd entered the sulfide liquid before Re, and that Pt is not strongly chalcophile in this system. Occasional high Pt values in both eruption and lava lake samples suggest the presence of unevenly distributed, unidentified Pt-rich trace phases in some Kilauea Iki materials. Estimated mineral (olivine + chromite)/melt D values for Os, Ir, Ru and Pt for equilibrium crystallization for samples from ~ 7 to 27??wt.% MgO are 26, 8.2, 19 and 0.55, respectively. These Os, Ir and Ru estimates are somewhat higher than previous estimates for similar systems. If fractional crystallization is instead assumed, D values are much more similar. Results confirm many prior observations in other mafic systems that olivine (together with included phases) has a major effect on absolute and relative abundances of Re and the PGE. The relatively linear correlations between these elements and MgO potentially permit accurate estimation of the concentrations of these elements in the primary melts of comparable systems, especially in instances where the MgO content of the primary melt is well constrained. ?? 2008 Elsevier B.V.

A new method for geochemical characterization of atmospheric mineral dust from polar ice cores: preliminary results from Talos Dome ice core (East Antarctica, Pacific-Ross Sea sector)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baccolo, Giovanni; Delmonte, Barbara; Clemenza, Massimiliano; Previtali, Ezio; Maggi, Valter

2015-04-01

Assessing the elemental composition of atmospheric dust entrapped in polar ice cores is important for the identification of the potential dust sources and thus for the reconstruction of past atmospheric circulation, at local, regional and global scale. Accurate determination of major and trace elements in the insoluble fraction of dust extracted from ice cores is also useful to better understand some geochemical and biogeochemical mechanisms which are linked with the climate system. The extremely reduced concentration of dust in polar ice (typical Antarctic concentrations during interglacials are in the range of 10 ppb), the limited availability of such samples and the high risk of contamination make these analyses a challenge. A new method based on low background Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was specifically developed for this kind of samples. The method allows the determination of the concentration of up to 35 elements in extremely reduced dust samples (20-30 μg). These elements span from major to trace and ultra-trace elements. Preliminary results from TALDICE (TALos Dome Ice CorE, East Antarctica, Pacific-Ross Sea Sector) ice core are presented along with results from potential source areas in Victoria Land. A set of 5 samples from Talos Dome, corresponding to the last termination, MIS3, MIS4 and MIS6 were prepared and analyzed by INAA.

Comparison of essential and toxic elements in esophagus, lung, mouth and urinary bladder male cancer patients with related to controls.

PubMed

Kazi, Tasneem Gul; Wadhwa, Sham Kumar; Afridi, Hassan Imran; Talpur, Farah Naz; Tuzen, Mustafa; Baig, Jameel Ahmed

2015-05-01

There is a compelling evidence in support of negative associations between essential trace and toxic elements in different types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between carcinogenic (As, Cd, Ni) and anti-carcinogenic (Se, Zn) trace elements in scalp hair samples of different male cancerous patients (esophagus, lung, mouth, and urinary bladder). For comparative purposes, the scalp hair samples of healthy males of the same age group (ranged 35-65 years) as controls were analyzed. Both controls and patients have the same socioeconomic status, localities, dietary habits, and smoking locally made cigarette. The scalp hair samples were oxidized by 65% nitric acid: 30% hydrogen peroxide (2:1) ratio in microwave oven followed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference material of human hair BCR 397. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, and Ni were found to be significantly higher in scalp hair samples of patients having different cancers as compared to the controls, while reverse results were obtained in the case of Se and Zn levels (p < 0.01). The study revealed that the carcinogenic processes are significantly affecting the trace elements burden and mutual interaction of essential trace and toxic elements in the cancerous patients.

Application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a tool to determine the origin of 'conflict minerals'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hark, R. R.; Harmon, R. S.; Remus, J. J.; East, L. J.; Wise, M. A.; Tansi, B. M.; Shughrue, K. M.; Dunsin, K. S.; Liu, C.

2012-04-01

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) offers a means of rapidly distinguishing different places of origin for a mineral because the LIBS plasma emission spectrum provides the complete chemical composition (i.e. geochemical fingerprint) of a mineral in real-time. An application of this approach with potentially significant commercial and political importance is the spectral fingerprinting of the 'conflict minerals' columbite-tantalite ("coltan"). Following a successful pilot study of three columbite-tantalite suites from the United States and Canada, a more geographically diverse set of samples from 37 locations worldwide were analyzed using a commercial laboratory LIBS system and a subset of samples also analyzed using a prototype broadband field-portable system. The spectral range from 250-490 nm was chosen for the laboratory analysis to encompass many of the intense emission lines for the major elements (Ta, Nb, Fe, Mn) and the significant trace elements (e.g., W, Ti, Zr, Sn, U, Sb, Ca, Zn, Pb, Y, Mg, and Sc) known to commonly substitute in the columbite-tantalite solid solution series crystal structure and in the columbite group minerals. The field-portable instrument offered an increased spectral range (198-1005 nm), over which all elements have spectral emission lines, and higher resolution than the laboratory instrument. In both cases, the LIBS spectra were analyzed using advanced multivariate statistical signal processing techniques. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA) resulted in a correct place-level geographic classification at success rates between 90 and 100%. The possible role of rare-earth elements (REE's) as a factor contributing to the high levels of sample discrimination was explored. Given the fact that it can be deployed as a man-portable analytical technology, these results lend additional evidence that LIBS has the potential to be utilized in the field as a real-time tool to discriminate between columbite-tantalite ores of different provenance.

A study of uniformity of elements deposition on glass fiber filters after collection of airborne particulate matter (PM-10), using a high-volume sampler.

PubMed

Marrero, Julieta; Rebagliati, Raúl Jiménez; Gómez, Darío; Smichowski, Patricia

2005-12-15

A study was conducted to evaluate the homogeneity of the distribution of metals and metalloids deposited on glass fiber filters collected using a high-volume sampler equipped with a PM-10 sampling head. The airborne particulate matter (APM)-loaded glass fiber filters (with an active surface of about 500cm(2)) were weighed and then each filter was cut in five small discs of 6.5cm of diameter. Each disk was mineralized by acid-assisted microwave (MW) digestion using a mixture of nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acids. Analysis was performed by axial view inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) and the elements considered were: Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti and V. The validation of the procedure was performed by the analysis of the standard reference material NIST 1648, urban particulate matter. As a way of comparing the possible variability in trace elements distribution in a particular filter, the mean concentration for each element over the five positions (discs) was calculated and each element concentration was normalized to this mean value. Scatter plots of the normalized concentrations were examined for all elements and all sub-samples. We considered that an element was homogeneously distributed if its normalized concentrations in the 45 sub-samples were within +/-15% of the mean value ranging between 0.85 and 1.15. The study demonstrated that the 12 elements tested showed different distribution pattern. Aluminium, Cu and V showed the most homogeneous pattern while Cd and Ni exhibited the largest departures from the mean value in 13 out of the 45 discs analyzed. No preferential deposition was noticed in any sub-sample.

Characterization of tank 51 sludge samples (HTF-51-17-44/ HTF-51-17-48) in support of sludge batch 10 processing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oji, L. N.

The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was requested by Savannah River Remediation (SRR) Engineering (SRR-E) to provide sample characterization and analyses of Tank 51 sludge samples in support of Sludge Batch (SB) 10. The two Tank 51 sludge samples were sampled and delivered to SRNL in May of 2017. These two tank 51 sludge samples were combined into one composite sample and analyzed for corrosion controls analytes, select radionuclides, chemical elements, density and weight percent total solids and aluminum hydroxides (gibbsite and boehmite) by x-ray diffraction.

Characterizing mineral dusts and other aerosols from the Middle East--Part 2: grab samples and re-suspensions.

PubMed

Engelbrecht, Johann P; McDonald, Eric V; Gillies, John A; Jayanty, R K M Jay; Casuccio, Gary; Gertler, Alan W

2009-02-01

The purpose of the Enhanced Particulate Matter Surveillance Program was to provide scientifically founded information on the chemical and physical properties of dust collected during a period of approximately 1 year in Djibouti, Afghanistan (Bagram, Khowst), Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Iraq (Balad, Baghdad, Tallil, Tikrit, Taji, Al Asad), and Kuwait (northern, central, coastal, and southern regions). To fully understand mineral dusts, their chemical and physical properties, as well as mineralogical inter-relationships, were accurately established. In addition to the ambient samples, bulk soil samples were collected at each of the 15 sites. In each case, approximately 1 kg of soil from the top 10 mm at a previously undisturbed area near the aerosol sampling site was collected. The samples were air-dried and sample splits taken for soil analysis. Further sample splits were sieved to separate the < 38 micro m particle fractions for mineralogical analysis. Examples of major-element and trace-element chemistry, mineralogy, and other physical properties of the 15 grab samples are presented. The purpose of the trace-element analysis was to measure levels of potentially harmful metals while the major-element and ion-chemistry analyses provided an estimate of mineral components. X-ray diffractometry provided a measure of the mineral content of the dust. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to analyze chemical composition of small individual particles. From similarities in the chemistry and mineralogy of re-suspended and ambient sample sets, it is evident that portions of the ambient dust are from local soils.

Major and trace element geochemistry and background concentrations for soils in Connecticut

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brown, Craig; Thomas, Margaret A.

2014-01-01

Soil samples were collected throughout Connecticut (CT) to determine the relationship of soil chemistry with the underlying geology and to better understand background concentrations of major and trace elements in soils. Soil samples were collected (1) from the upper 5 cm of surficial soil at 100 sites, (2) from the A horizon at 86 of these sites, and (3) from the deeper horizon, typically the C horizon, at 79 of these sites. The <2-millimeter fraction of each sample was analyzed for 44 elements by methods that yield the total or near-total elemental content. Sample sites were characterized by glacial setting, underlying bedrock geology, and soil type. These spatial data were used with element concentrations in the C-horizon to relate geologic factors to soil chemistry. Concentrations of elements in C-horizon soils varied with grain size in surficial glacial materials and with underlying rock types, as determined using nonparametric statistical procedures. Concentrations of most elements in C-horizon soils showed a positive correlation with silt and (or) clay content and were higher in surficial materials mapped as till, thick till, and (or) fines. Element concentrations in C-horizon soils showed significant differences among the underlying geologic provinces and were highest overlying the Grenville Belt and (or) the Grenville Shelf Sequence Provinces in western CT. These rocks consist mainly of carbonates and the relatively high element concentrations in overlying soils likely result from less influence of dilution by quartz compared to other provinces. Element concentrations in C-horizon soils in CT were compared with those in samples from other New England states overlying similar lithologic bedrock types. The upper range of As concentrations in C-horizon soils overlying the New Hampshire-Maine (NH-ME) Sequence in CT was 15 mg/kg, lower than the upper range of 24 mg/kg in C-horizon soils overlying the same sequence in ME. In CT, U concentration means were significantly higher in C-horizon soils overlying Avalonian granites, and U concentrations ranged as high as 14 mg/kg, compared to those in C-horizon soil samples collected from other New England states, which ranged as high as 6.1 mg/kg in a sample in NH overlying the NH-ME Sequence. Element concentrations in C-horizon soils in CT were compared with those in samples collected from shallower depths. Concentrations of most major elements were highest in C-horizon soil samples, including Al, Ca, Fe, K, Na, and Ti, but element concentrations showed a relatively similar pattern in A-horizon and surficial soil samples among the underlying geologic provinces. Trace element concentrations, including Ba, W, Ga, Ni, Cs, Rb, Sr, Th, Sc, and U, also were higher in C-horizon soil samples than in overlying soil samples. Concentrations of Mg, and several trace elements, including Mn, P, As, Nb, Sn, Be, Bi, Hg, Se, Sb, La, Co, Cr, Pb, V, Y, Cu, Pb, and Zn were highest in some A-horizon or surficial soils, and indicate possible contributions from anthropogenic sources. Because element concentrations in soils above the C horizon are more likely to be affected by anthropogenic factors, concentration ranges in C-horizon soils and their spatially varying geologic associations should be considered when estimating background concentrations of elements in CT soils.

Trace Elements Characteristic Based on ICP-AES and the Correlation of Flavonoids from Sparganii rhizoma.

PubMed

Wang, Xinsheng; Wu, Yanfang; Wu, Chengying; Wu, Qinan; Niu, Qingshan

2018-04-01

The aim of the present work was to investigate the trace elements and the correlation with flavonoids from Sparganii rhizoma. The ICP-AES and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy were employed to analyze trace elements and flavonoids. The concentrations of trace elements and flavonoids were calculated using standard curve. The content of flavonoids was expressed as rutin equivalents. The cluster analysis was applied to evaluate geographical features of S. rhizoma from different geographical regions. The correlation analysis was used to obtain the relationship between the trace elements and flavonoids. The results indicated that the 15 trace elements were measured and the K, Ca, Mg, Na, Mn, Al, Cu, and Zn are rich in Sparganii rhizome. The different producing regions samples were classified into four groups. There was a weak relationship between trace elements and flavonoids.

Occurrence of Selected Nutrients, Trace Elements, and Organic Compounds in Streambed Sediment in the Lower Chena River Watershed near Fairbanks, Alaska, 2002-03

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kennedy, Ben W.; Hall, Cassidee C.

2009-01-01

In 2002-03, the U.S. Geological Survey collected samples of streambed sediment at 18 sites in the lower Chena River watershed for analysis of selected nutrients, traces elements, and organic compounds. The purpose of the project was to provide Federal, State, and local agencies as well as neighborhood committees, with information for consideration in plans to improve environmental conditions in the watershed. The exploratory sampling program included analysis of streambed sediment from the Chena River and Chena Slough, a tributary to the Chena River. Results were compared to streambed-sediment guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and to 2001-02 sediment data from Noyes Slough, a side channel of the lower Chena River. The median total phosphorus concentration in Chena Slough sediment samples, 680 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), was two orders of magnitude greater than median total phosphorus concentration in Chena River sediment samples of 5.2 mg/kg. Median concentrations of chloride and sulfate also were greater in Chena Slough samples. Low concentrations of nitrate were detected in most of the Chena Slough samples; nitrate concentrations were below method reporting limits or not detected in Chena River sediment samples. Streambed-sediment samples were analyzed for 24 trace elements. Arsenic, nickel, and zinc were the only trace elements detected in concentrations that exceeded probable-effect levels for the protection of aquatic life. Concentrations of arsenic in Chena Slough samples ranged from 11 to 70 mg/kg and concentrations in most of the samples exceeded the probable-effect guideline for arsenic of 17 mg/kg. Arsenic concentrations in samples from the Chena River ranged from 9 to 12 mg/kg. The background level for arsenic in the lower Chena River watershed is naturally elevated because of significant concentrations of arsenic in local bedrock and ground water. Sources of elevated concentrations of zinc in one sample, and of nickel in two samples, are unknown. With the exception of elevated arsenic levels in samples from Chena Slough, the occurrence and concentration of trace elements in the streambed sediments of Chena Slough and Chena River were similar to those in Noyes Slough sediment. Sediment samples were analyzed for 78 semivolatile organic compounds and 32 organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Low concentrations of dimethylnaphthalene and p-Cresol were detected in most Chena Slough and Chena River sediment samples. The number of semivolatile organic compounds detected ranged from 5 to 21 in most Chena Slough sediment samples. In contrast, three or fewer semivolatile organic compounds were detected in Chena River sediment samples, most likely because chemical-matrix interference resulted in elevated reporting limits for organochlorine compounds in the Chena River samples. Low concentrations of fluoranthene, pyrene, and phenanthrene were detected in Chena Slough sediment. Relatively low concentrations of DDT or its degradation products, DDD and DDE, were detected in all Chena Slough samples. Concentrations of total DDT (DDT+DDD+DDE) in two Chena Slough sediment samples exceeded the effectsrange median aquatic-life criteria of 46.1 micrograms per kilogram (ug/kg). DDT concentrations in Chena River streambed-sediment samples were less than 20 ug/kg. Low concentrations of PCB were detected in two Chena Slough streambed-sediment samples. None of the concentrations of the polychlorinated biphenyls or semivolatile organic compounds for which the samples were analyzed exceeded available guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. With the exception of elevated total DDT in two Chena Slough samples, the occurrence and concentration of organochlorine compounds in Chena Slough and Chena River sediment were similar to those in samples collected from Noyes Slough in 2001-02.

Trace elements geochemistry of fractured basement aquifer in southern Malawi: A case of Blantyre rural

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mapoma, Harold Wilson Tumwitike; Xie, Xianjun; Nyirenda, Mathews Tananga; Zhang, Liping; Kaonga, Chikumbusko Chiziwa; Mbewe, Rex

2017-07-01

In this study, twenty one (21) trace elements in the basement complex groundwater of Blantyre district, Malawi were analyzed. The majority of the analyzed trace elements in the water were within the standards set by World Health Organization (WHO) and Malawi Standards Board (MSB). But, iron (Fe) (BH16 and 21), manganese (Mn) (BH01) and selenium (Se) (BH02, 13, 18, 19 and 20) were higher than the WHO and MSB standards. Factor analysis (FA) revealed up to five significant factors which accounted for 87.4% of the variance. Factor 1, 2 and 3 suggest evaporite dissolution and silicate weathering processes while the fourth factor may explain carbonate dissolution and pH influence on trace element geochemistry of the studied groundwater samples. According to PHREEQC computed saturation indices, dissolution, precipitation and rock-water-interaction control the levels of trace elements in this aquifer. Elevated concentrations of Fe, Mn and Se in certain boreholes are due to the geology of the aquifer and probable redox status of groundwater. From PHREEQC speciation results, variations in trace element species were observed. Based on this study, boreholes need constant monitoring and assessment for human consumption to avoid health related issues.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for quantitative spectrochemical analysis of geological materials: effects of the matrix and simultaneous determination.

PubMed

Anzano, Jesús M; Villoria, Mark A; Ruíz-Medina, Antonio; Lasheras, Roberto J

2006-08-11

A microscopic laser-induced breakdown spectrometer was used to evaluate the analytical matrix effect commonly observed in the analysis of geological materials. Samples were analyzed in either the powder or pressed pellet forms. Calibration curves of a number of iron and aluminum compounds showed a linear relationship between the elemental concentration and peak intensity. A direct determination of elemental content can thus be made from extrapolation on these calibration curves. To investigate matrix effects, synthetic model samples were prepared from various iron and aluminum compounds spiked with SiO2 and CaCO3. The addition of these matrices had a pronounced analytical effect on those compounds prepared as pressed pellets. However, results indicated the absence of matrix effects when the samples were presented to the laser as loose powders on tape and results were compared to certified values, indicating the reliability of this approach for accurate analysis, provided the sample particle diameters are greater than approximately 100 microm. Finally, the simultaneous analysis of two different elements was demonstrated using powders on tape.

Proton Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE): Determining the Concentration of Samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarthy, Mallory; Rodriguez Manso, Alis; Pajouhafsar, Yasmin; J Yennello, Sherry

2017-09-01

We used Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) as an analysis technique to determine the composition of samples, in particular, the elemental constituents and the concentrations. Each of the samples are bombarded with protons, which in result displaces a lower level electron and causes a higher level electron to fall into its place. This displacement produces characteristic x-rays that are `fingerprints' for each element. The protons supplied for the bombardment are produced and accelerated by the K150 proton beam in the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University. The products are detected by three x-ray detectors: XR-100CR Si-PIN, XR-100SDD, and XR-100T CdTe. The peaks of the spectrum are analyzed using a software analysis tool, GUPIXWIN, to determine the concentration of the known elements of each particular sample. The goals of this work are to test run the Proton Induced X-Ray Emission experimental set up at Texas A&M University (TAMU) and to determine the concentration of thin films containing KBr given by the TAMU Chemical Engineering Department.

Survey of rural, private wells. Statistical design

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mehnert, Edward; Schock, Susan C.; ,

1991-01-01

Half of Illinois' 38 million acres were planted in corn and soybeans in 1988. On the 19 million acres planted in corn and soybeans, approximately 1 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer and 50 million pounds of pesticides were applied. Because groundwater is the water supply for over 90 percent of rural Illinois, the occurrence of agricultural chemicals in groundwater in Illinois is of interest to the agricultural community, the public, and regulatory agencies. The occurrence of agricultural chemicals in groundwater is well documented. However, the extent of this contamination still needs to be defined. This can be done by randomly sampling wells across a geographic area. Key elements of a random, water-well sampling program for regional groundwater quality include the overall statistical design of the program, definition of the sample population, selection of wells to be sampled, and analysis of survey results. These elements must be consistent with the purpose for conducting the program; otherwise, the program will not provide the desired information. The need to carefully design and conduct a sampling program becomes readily apparent when one considers the high cost of collecting and analyzing a sample. For a random sampling program conducted in Illinois, the key elements, as well as the limitations imposed by available information, are described.

Elemental Characterization and Discrimination of Nontoxic Ammunition Using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis and Principal Components Analysis.

PubMed

Hogg, Seth R; Hunter, Brian C; Waddell Smith, Ruth

2016-01-01

Concerns over the toxic by-products produced by traditional ammunition have led to an increase in popularity of nontoxic ammunition. In this work, the chemical composition of six brands of nontoxic ammunition was investigated and compared to that of a road flare, which served as an environmental source with similar composition. Five rounds of each brand were fired while a further five were disassembled and the primer alone was fired. Particles collected from all samples, including the road flare, were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Common elements among the different ammunition brands included aluminum, potassium, silicon, calcium, and strontium. Spectra were then subjected to principal components analysis in which association of the primer to the intact ammunition sample was generally possible, with distinction among brands and from the road flare sample. Further, PCA loadings plots indicated the elements responsible for the association and discrimination observed. © 2015 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Analysis of microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminium-copper joints welded by FSW process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iordache, M.; Sicoe, G.; Iacomi, D.; Niţu, E.; Ducu, C.

2017-08-01

The research conducted in this article aimed to check the quality of joining some dissimilar materials Al-Cu by determining the mechanical properties and microstructure analysis. For the experimental measurements there were used tin alloy Al - EN-AW-1050A with a thickness of 2 mm and Cu99 sheet with a thickness of 2 mm, joined by FSW weld overlay. The main welding parameters were: rotating speed of the rotating element 1400 rev/min, speed of the rotating element 50 mm/min. The experimental results were determined on samples specially prepared for metallographic analysis. In order to prepare samples for their characterization, there was designed and built a device that allowed simultaneous positioning and fixing for grinding. The characteristics analyzed in the joint welded samples were mictrostructure, microhardness and residual stresses. The techniques used to determine these characteristics were optical microscopy, electron microscopy with fluorescence radioactive elemental analysis (EDS), Vickers microhardness line - HV0.3 and X-ray diffractometry.

Chemical and mineralogical analysis of devonian black-shale samples from Martin County, Kentucky; Carroll and Washington counties, Ohio; Wise County, Virginia; and Overton County, Tennessee, U.S.A.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Leventhal, J.S.; Hosterman, J.W.

1982-01-01

Core samples of Devonian shales from five localities in the Appalachian basin have been analyzed chemically and mineralogically. The amounts of major elements are similar; however, the minor constituents, organic C, S, phosphate and carbonate show ten-fold variations in amounts. Trace elements Mo, Ni, Cu, V, Co, U, Zn, Hg, As and Mn show variations in amounts that can be related to the minor constituents. All samples contain major amounts of quartz, illite, two types of mixed-layer clays, and chlorite in differing quantities. Pyrite, calcite, feldspar and kaolinite are also present in many samples in minor amounts. Dolomite, apatite, gypsum, barite, biotite and marcasite are present in a few samples in trace amounts. Trace elements listed above are strongly controlled by organic C with the exception of Mn which is associated with carbonate minerals. Amounts of organic C generally range from 3 to 6%, and S is in the range of 2-5%. Amounts of trace elements show the following general ranges in ppm (parts per million): Co, 20-40; Cu, 40-70; U, 10-40; As, 20-40; V, 150-300; Ni, 80-150; high values are as much as twice these values. The organic C was probably the concentrating agent, and the organic C and sulfide S together created an environment that immobilized and preserved these trace elements. Closely spaced samples showing an abrupt transition in color also show changes in organic C, S and trace-element contents. Several associations exist between mineral and chemical content. Pyrite and marcasite are the only minerals found to contain sulfide-S. In general, the illite-chlorite mixed-layer clay mineral shows covariation with organic C if calcite is not present. The enriched trace elements are not related to the clay types, although the clay and organic matter are intimately associated as the bulk fabric of the rock. ?? 1982.

Are C1 chondrites chemically fractionated - A trace element study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ebihara, M.; Wolf, R.; Anders, E.

1982-01-01

Six C1 chondrite samples and a C2 xenolith from the Plainview H5 chondrite were analyzed by radiochemical neutron activation for a large variety of elements, including rare earths. The sample processing is described, including the irradiation, chemical procedure, rare earths separation, counting techniques, radiochemical purity check, and chemical yields. The results of consistency checks on a number of elements are discussed. Abundances for siderophiles, volatiles, and rare earths are presented and discussed. Tests are presented for fractionation of rare earths and other refractories, compositional uniformity of C1's, and interelement correlations. There is no conclusive evidence for nebular fractionation affecting C1's. Three fractionation-prone rare earths have essentially the same relative abundances in C1's and all other chondrite classes, and hence are apparently not fractionated in C1's.

Characterization of Three Carbon- and Nitrogen-Rich Particles from Comet 81P/WILD

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gallien, J.-P.; Khodja, H.; Herzog, G. F.; Taylor, S.; Koepsell, E.; Daghlian, C. P.; Flynn, G. J.; Sitnitsky, I.; Lanzirotti, A.; Sutton, S. R.;

Assessment of nonpoint source chemical loading potential to watersheds containing uranium waste dumps associated with uranium exploration and mining, Browns Hole, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Marston, Thomas M.; Beisner, Kimberly R.; Naftz, David L.; Snyder, Terry

2012-01-01

During August of 2008, 35 solid-phase samples were collected from abandoned uranium waste dumps, undisturbed geologic background sites, and adjacent streambeds in Browns Hole in southeastern Utah. The objectives of this sampling program were (1) to assess impacts on human health due to exposure to radium, uranium, and thorium during recreational activities on and around uranium waste dumps on Bureau of Land Management lands; (2) to compare concentrations of trace elements associated with mine waste dumps to natural background concentrations; (3) to assess the nonpoint source chemical loading potential to ephemeral and perennial watersheds from uranium waste dumps; and (4) to assess contamination from waste dumps to the local perennial stream water in Muleshoe Creek. Uranium waste dump samples were collected using solid-phase sampling protocols. Solid samples were digested and analyzed for major and trace elements. Analytical values for radium and uranium in digested samples were compared to multiple soil screening levels developed from annual dosage calculations in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act's minimum cleanup guidelines for uranium waste sites. Three occupancy durations for sites were considered: 4.6 days per year, 7.0 days per year, and 14.0 days per year. None of the sites exceeded the radium soil screening level of 96 picocuries per gram, corresponding to a 4.6 days per year exposure. Two sites exceeded the radium soil screening level of 66 picocuries per gram, corresponding to a 7.0 days per year exposure. Seven sites exceeded the radium soil screening level of 33 picocuries per gram, corresponding to a 14.0 days per year exposure. A perennial stream that flows next to the toe of a uranium waste dump was sampled, analyzed for major and trace elements, and compared with existing aquatic-life and drinking-water-quality standards. None of the water-quality standards were exceeded in the stream samples.

International Workshop on Microplasmas (5th)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-14

Another fabric-treatment aplication of DCSBD discussed is the surface treatment of PES cords resulting in significant improvement of the adhesion to rubber...analyze small amount samples more efficiently, and to realize high performance mobile elemental analysis system, we have studied and developed high

Physical-property, water-quality, plankton, and bottom-material data for Devils Lake and East Devils Lake, North Dakota, September 1988 through October 1990

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sando, Steven K.; Sether, Bradley A.

1993-01-01

Physical-properties were measured and water-quality, plankton, and bottom-material samples were collected at 10 sites in Devils Lake and East Devils Lake during September 1988 through October 1990 to study water-quality variability and water-quality and plankton relations in Devils Lake and East Devils Lake. Physical properties measured include specific conductance, pH, water temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, water transparency, and light transmission. Water-quality samples were analyzed for concentrations of major ions, selected nutrients, and selected trace elements. Plankton samples were examined for identification and enumeration of phytoplankton and zooplankton species, and bottom-material samples were analyzed for concentrations of selected nutrients. Data-collection procedures are discussed and the data are presented in tabular form.

Characterization of the Sukinda and Nausahi ultramafic complexes, Orissa, India by platinum-group element geochemistry

USGS Publications Warehouse

Page, N.J.; Banerji, P.K.; Haffty, J.

1985-01-01

Samples of 20 chromitite, 14 ultramafic and mafic rock, and 9 laterite and soil samples from the Precambrian Sukinda and Nausahi ultramafic complexes, Orissa, India were analyzed for platinum-group elements (PGE). The maximum concentrations are: palladium, 13 parts per billion (ppb); platinum, 120 ppb; rhodium, 21 ppb; iridium, 210 ppb; and ruthenium, 630 ppb. Comparison of chondrite-normalized ratios of PGE for the chromitite samples of lower Proterozoic to Archean age with similar data from Paleozoic and Mesozoic ophiolite complexes strongly implies that these complexes represent Precambrian analogs of ophiolite complexes. This finding is consistent with the geology and petrology of the Indian complexes and suggests that plate-tectonic and ocean basin developement models probably apply to some parts of Precambrian shield areas. ?? 1985.

Far Field Modeling Methods For Characterizing Surface Detonations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garrett, A.

2015-10-08

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) analyzed particle samples collected during experiments that were designed to replicate tests of nuclear weapons components that involve detonation of high explosives (HE). SRNL collected the particle samples in the HE debris cloud using innovative rocket propelled samplers. SRNL used scanning electronic microscopy to determine the elemental constituents of the particles and their size distributions. Depleted uranium composed about 7% of the particle contents. SRNL used the particle size distributions and elemental composition to perform transport calculations that indicate in many terrains and atmospheric conditions the uranium bearing particles will be transported long distances downwind.more » This research established that HE tests specific to nuclear proliferation should be detectable at long downwind distances by sampling airborne particles created by the test detonations.« less

Estimate of contribution of jet aircraft operations to trace element concentration at or near airports

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fordyce, J. S.; Sheibley, D. W.

1974-01-01

Samples of ASTM type A jet fuel were analyzed for trace-element content by instrumental neutron activation techniques. Forty-nine elements were sought. Only ten, aluminum, gold, indium, lanthanum, titanium, vandium, barium, dysprosium, tellurium, and uranium, were observed at levels above the detection limits encountered; of these only aluminum, titanium, and barium were present at concentrations greater than 0.1 ppm. Estimates of exhaust gas concentrations are made, and the ambient contribution at or near airports is calculated by using the Los Angeles International Airport dispersion model. It is shown that the ambient contribution is about an order of magnitude below typical urban levels for virtually all elements sought.

Estimate of contribution of jet aircraft operations to trace element concentration at or near airports

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fordyce, J. S.; Sheibley, D. W.

1975-01-01

Samples of ASTM type A jet fuel were analyzed for trace element content by instrumental neutron activation techniques. Forty-nine elements were sought. Only ten, aluminum, gold, indium, lanthanum, titanium, vanadium, barium, dysprosium, tellurium, and uranium, were observed at levels above the detection limits encountered; of these only aluminum, titanium, and barium were present at concentrations greater than 0.1 ppm. Estimates of exhaust gas concentrations are made, and the ambient contribution at or near airports is calculated by using the Los Angeles International Airport dispersion model. It is shown that the ambient contribution is about an order of magnitude below typical urban levels for virtually all elements sought.

Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC as genotoxicity indicator of exposure to coal and emissions from a thermal power plant.

PubMed

Menezes, Ana Paula Simões; Da Silva, Juliana; Roloff, Joice; Reyes, Juliana; Debastiani, Rafaela; Dias, Johnny F; Rohr, Paula; de Barros Falcão Ferraz, Alexandre

2013-10-01

During coal combustion, hazardous elements are discharged that impair environmental quality. Plant cover is the first available surface for the atmospheric pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate genotoxicity in the aqueous extract of the native plant, Baccharis trimera, exposed to coal and emissions from a thermal power plant (coal-fired power plant in Candiota, Brazil), correlating seasonality, wind tunnel predominance, and presence of inorganic elements. The presence of inorganic elements in the aerial parts of B. trimera was analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry, and genotoxicity was evaluated by ex vivo comet assay. The genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of B. trimera from four sites located in the area around power plant were analyzed by comet assay in peripheral human lymphocytes. Winter samples showed greater levels of metals than summer samples. Genotoxicity was detected in B. trimera extracts collected from the region exposed to extraction and burning coal. Extracts from the site impacted by the dominant wind induced more damage to DNA than those from other sites. Based on our data, we can suggest that in winter the inorganic elements from extraction and burning of coal and carried through the wind tunnel were responsible for the genotoxicity observed in aqueous extract of B. trimera.

Organic contaminants, trace and major elements, and nutrients in water and sediment sampled in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nowell, Lisa H.; Ludtke, Amy S.; Mueller, David K.; Scott, Jonathon C.

2012-01-01

Beach water and sediment samples were collected along the Gulf of Mexico coast to assess differences in contaminant concentrations before and after landfall of Macondo-1 well oil released into the Gulf of Mexico from the sinking of the British Petroleum Corporation's Deepwater Horizon drilling platform. Samples were collected at 70 coastal sites between May 7 and July 7, 2010, to document baseline, or "pre-landfall" conditions. A subset of 48 sites was resampled during October 4 to 14, 2010, after oil had made landfall on the Gulf of Mexico coast, called the "post-landfall" sampling period, to determine if actionable concentrations of oil were present along shorelines. Few organic contaminants were detected in water; their detection frequencies generally were low and similar in pre-landfall and post-landfall samples. Only one organic contaminant--toluene--had significantly higher concentrations in post-landfall than pre-landfall water samples. No water samples exceeded any human-health benchmarks, and only one post-landfall water sample exceeded an aquatic-life benchmark--the toxic-unit benchmark for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mixtures. In sediment, concentrations of 3 parent PAHs and 17 alkylated PAH groups were significantly higher in post-landfall samples than pre-landfall samples. One pre-landfall sample from Texas exceeded the sediment toxic-unit benchmark for PAH mixtures; this site was not sampled during the post-landfall period. Empirical upper screening-value benchmarks for PAHs in sediment were exceeded at 37 percent of post-landfall samples and 22 percent of pre-landfall samples, but there was no significant difference in the proportion of samples exceeding benchmarks between paired pre-landfall and post-landfall samples. Seven sites had the largest concentration differences between post-landfall and pre-landfall samples for 15 alkylated PAHs. Five of these seven sites, located in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, had diagnostic geochemical evidence of Macondo-1 oil in post-landfall sediments and tarballs. For trace and major elements in water, analytical reporting levels for several elements were high and variable. No human-health benchmarks were exceeded, although these were available for only two elements. Aquatic-life benchmarks for trace elements were exceeded in 47 percent of water samples overall. The elements responsible for the most exceedances in post-landfall samples were boron, copper, and manganese. Benchmark exceedances in water could be substantially underestimated because some samples had reporting levels higher than the applicable benchmarks (such as cobalt, copper, lead and zinc) and some elements (such as boron and vanadium) were analyzed in samples from only one sampling period. For trace elements in whole sediment, empirical upper screening-value benchmarks were exceeded in 57 percent of post-landfall samples and 40 percent of pre-landfall samples, but there was no significant difference in the proportion of samples exceeding benchmarks between paired pre-landfall and post-landfall samples. Benchmark exceedance frequencies could be conservatively high because they are based on measurements of total trace-element concentrations in sediment. In the less than 63-micrometer sediment fraction, one or more trace or major elements were anthropogenically enriched relative to national baseline values for U.S. streams for all sediment samples except one. Sixteen percent of sediment samples exceeded upper screening-value benchmarks for, and were enriched in, one or more of the following elements: barium, vanadium, aluminum, manganese, arsenic, chromium, and cobalt. These samples were evenly divided between the sampling periods. Aquatic-life benchmarks were frequently exceeded along the Gulf of Mexico coast by trace elements in both water and sediment and by PAHs in sediment. For the most part, however, significant differences between pre-landfall and post-landfall samples were limited to concentrations of PAHs in sediment. At five sites along the coast, the higher post-landfall concentrations of PAHs were associated with diagnostic geochemical evidence of Deepwater Horizon Macondo-1 oil.

Analyses of Mineral Content and Heavy Metal of Honey Samples from South and East Region of Turkey by Using ICP-MS.

PubMed

Kılıç Altun, Serap; Dinç, Hikmet; Paksoy, Nilgün; Temamoğulları, Füsun Karaçal; Savrunlu, Mehmet

2017-01-01

The substantial of mineral ingredients in honey may symbolize the existence of elements in the plants and soil of the vicinity wherein the honey was taken. The aim of this study was to detect the levels of 13 elements (Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Aluminum (Al), and Selenium (Se)) in unifloral and multifloral honey samples from south and east regions of Turkey. Survey of 71 honey samples from seven different herbal origins, picked up from the south and east region of Turkey, was carried out to determine their mineral contents during 2015-2016. The mineral contents were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The most abundant minerals were K, Na, and Ca ranging within 1.18-268 ppm, 0.57-13.1 ppm, and 0.77-4.5 ppm, respectively. Zn and Cu were the most abundant trace element while Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr were the lowest heavy metals in the honey samples surveyed, with regard to the concentrations of heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr suggested and influence of the botanical origin of element composition. Geochemical and geographical differences are probably related to the variations of the chemical components of honey samples.

Optimizing total reflection X-ray fluorescence for direct trace element quantification in proteins I: Influence of sample homogeneity and reflector type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wellenreuther, G.; Fittschen, U. E. A.; Achard, M. E. S.; Faust, A.; Kreplin, X.; Meyer-Klaucke, W.

2008-12-01

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) is a very promising method for the direct, quick and reliable multi-elemental quantification of trace elements in protein samples. With the introduction of an internal standard consisting of two reference elements, scandium and gallium, a wide range of proteins can be analyzed, regardless of their salt content, buffer composition, additives and amino acid composition. This strategy also enables quantification of matrix effects. Two potential issues associated with drying have been considered in this study: (1) Formation of heterogeneous residues of varying thickness and/or density; and (2) separation of the internal standard and protein during drying (which has to be prevented to allow accurate quantification). These issues were investigated by microbeam X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) with special emphasis on (I) the influence of sample support and (II) the protein / buffer system used. In the first part, a model protein was studied on well established sample supports used in TXRF, PIXE and XRF (Mylar, siliconized quartz, Plexiglas and silicon). In the second part we imaged proteins of different molecular weight, oligomerization state, bound metals and solubility. A partial separation of protein and internal standard was only observed with untreated silicon, suggesting it may not be an adequate support material. Siliconized quartz proved to be the least prone to heterogeneous drying of the sample and yielded the most reliable results.

Water-soluble ions and trace elements in surface snow and their potential source regions across northeastern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xin; Pu, Wei; Zhang, Xueying; Ren, Yong; Huang, Jianping

2015-08-01

We collected 92 snow samples from 13 sites across northeastern China from January 7 to February 15, 2014. The surface snow samples were analyzed for the major water-soluble ions (SO42-, NO3-, F-, Cl-, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and NH4+) and trace element (Al, As, Mn, V, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cr, and Ni). The results indicated that the higher concentrations of NO3- and SO42- and the trace elements Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cu were likely attributable to enhanced local industrial emissions in East Asia especially in China. In addition, snow samples characterized by higher enrichment factors of trace elements (Cu, Cd, As, Zn, Pb) were indicative of an anthropogenic source. Emissions from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning were likely important contributors to the chemical elements in seasonal snow with long-range transport. On the other hand, the large attribution of K+ appeared in the higher latitude demonstrated that biomass burning was a dominated factor of the chemical species in seasonal snow in the higher latitude of China than that in the lower latitude. Finally, an interannual comparison with the 2010 China snow survey also confirmed the source attributions of chemical speciation in seasonal snow in these regions.

A Simulated Geochemical Rover Mission to the Taurus-Littrow Valley of the Moon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korotev, Randy L.; Haskin, Larry A.; Jolliff, Bradley L.

1995-01-01

We test the effectiveness of using an alpha backscatter, alpha-proton, X ray spectrometer on a remotely operated rover to analyze soils and provide geologically useful information about the Moon during a simulated mission to a hypothetical site resembling the Apollo 17 landing site. On the mission, 100 soil samples are "analyzed" for major elements at moderate analytical precision (e.g., typical relative sample standard deviation from counting statistics: Si[11%], Al[18%], Fe[6%], Mg[20%], Ca[5%]). Simulated compositions of soils are generated by combining compositions of components representing the major lithologies occurring at the site in known proportions. Simulated analyses are generated by degrading the simulated compositions according to the expected analytical precision of the analyzer. Compositions obtained from the simulated analyses are modeled by least squares mass balance as mixtures of the components, and the relative proportions of those components as predicted by the model are compared with the actual proportions used to generate the simulated composition. Boundary conditions of the modeling exercise are that all important lithologic components of the regolith are known and are represented by model components, and that the compositions of these components are well known. The effect of having the capability of determining one incompatible element at moderate precision (25%) is compared with the effect of the lack of this capability. We discuss likely limitations and ambiguities that would be encountered, but conclude that much of our knowledge about the Apollo 17 site (based on the return samples) regarding the distribution and relative abundances of lithologies in the regolith could be obtained. This success requires, however, that at least one incompatible element be determined.

A chemical-spectrochemical method for the determination of rare earth elements and thorium in cerium minerals

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rose, H.J.; Murata, K.J.; Carron, M.K.

1954-01-01

In a combined chemical-spectrochemical procedure for quantitatively determining rare earth elements in cerium minerals, cerium is determined volumetrically, a total rare earths plus thoria precipitate is separated chemically, the ceria content of the precipitate is raised to 80??0 percent by adding pure ceria, and the resulting mixture is analyzed for lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, yttrium, and thorium spectrochemically by means of the d.c. carbon arc. Spectral lines of singly ionized cerium are used as internal standard lines in the spectrochemical determination which is patterned after Fassel's procedure [1]. Results of testing the method with synthetic mixtures of rare earths and with samples of chemically analyzed cerium minerals show that the coefficient of variation for a quadruplicate determination of any element does not exceed 5??0 (excepting yttrium at concentrations less than 1 percent) and that the method is free of serious systematic error. ?? 1954.

Dependence of precipitation of trace elements on pH in standard water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verma, Shivcharan; Mohanty, Biraja P.; Singh, K. P.; Behera, B. R.; Kumar, Ashok

2018-04-01

The present work aimed to study the dependence of precipitation of trace elements on the pH of solution. A standard solution was prepared by using ultrapure deionized water (18.2 MΩ/cm) as the solvent and 11 water-soluble salts having different elements as solutes. Five samples of different pH values (2 acidic, 2 basic, and 1 neutral) were prepared from this standard solution. Sodium-diethyldithiocarbamate was used as the chelating agent to precipitate the metal ions present in these samples of different pH values. The targets were prepared by collecting these precipitates on mixed cellulose esters filter of 0.4 μm pore size by vacuum filtration. Elemental analysis of these targets was performed by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) using 2.7 MeV protons from the single Dee variable energy cyclotron at Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. PIXE data were analyzed using GUPIXWIN software. For most of the elements, except Hg with oxidation state +2, such as Co, Ni, Zn, Ba, and Cd, a general trend of enhancement in precipitation was observed with the increase in pH. However, for other elements such as V, As, Mo, Ag, and Bi, which have oxidation state other than +2, no definite pattern was observed. Precipitation of Ba and As using this method was negligible at all five pH values. From these results, it can be concluded that the precipitation and recovery of elements depend strongly on the pH of the water sample.

Patterns of trace element bioaccumulation in jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon from SE Spain.

PubMed

Muñoz-Vera, Ana; Peñas Castejón, Jose Matías; García, Gregorio

2016-09-15

The effects of an abandoned mining area, exploited for centuries in the mining district of Cartagena-La Union, result in a continuous supply of heavy metals into the Mar Menor coastal lagoon after rain episodes. As a consequence, concentration of trace elements in water column and sediments of this ecosystem is usually higher than in other areas. For monitoring ecosystem health, this study assessed the ability of Rhizostoma pulmo to bioaccumulate trace elements. A total of 57 individuals were sampled at eight different sampling stations during the summer of 2012. Although the concentrations of different analyzed elements (Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sn, and Pb) were moderate, bioconcentration levels in relation to seawater metal concentration were extremely high. In any case, the use or disposal of these organisms should consider their metal content, because of their potential environmental and health implications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Total and extractable elemental composition of the intertidal estuarine biofilm of the Río de la Plata: Disentangling natural and anthropogenic influences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Alonso, J.; Lercari, D.; Araujo, B. F.; Almeida, M. G.; Rezende, C. E.

2017-03-01

Estuarine transitional waters constitute regions affected by or at risk of anthropogenic impact due to urbanization and industrial development. The elemental composition of the intertidal biofilm sediment is an excellent marker for the detection of any impact, and may exert a bottom-up influence by natural concatenation to higher organization levels (e.g. molecules, cells, organisms, communities). The distribution pattern of elemental composition (total and bioavailable fraction) along the estuary axes was analyzed, disentangling potential shifts produced by human activities. We predict that most abundant elements in the Rio de la Plata estuary are the natural earth-crust components and that these will not show any evident gradient along the estuarine axis. Elements involved in human related processes will shape concentration gradients from the most probable source (i.e. cities) indicating estuarine pollution. The research strategy involved the sampling of intertidal biofilm along the entire estuary and the registration of environmental variables and the total and bioavailable elemental composition. Sampling sites represent pristine, agricultural, and urbanized areas along a 428-km-long coastline comprising the inner, middle and outer Río de la Plata estuarine zones and a coastal fringe of oceanic beaches of Uruguay (South America). Biofilm sediment samples were collected in Autumn 2011 and digested for total and extractable (bioavailable) elements quantification measured by ICP-OES. Mercury (Hg) sediments were digested with aqua regia and quantified by cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAAS). The most abundant elements measured were Al, Fe, and Ca in all sampling. Anthropogenic marker elements such as Hg, Cr, Pb, Zn, and Cu were found, even at potentially toxic levels, at urban beaches at the city of Montevideo. The ordination of samples highlights the distinctive characteristics of urban beaches, placed in a particular location along the first principal component. This position is mainly driven by human impact marker metals and C/N ratios. The results highlight the value of bioavailable elemental composition analyses of benthic biofilm as a tool for detecting shifts in estuarine systems.

Evaluation of trace elements in lung samples from coal miners using neutron activation analysis.

PubMed

Saiki, M; Saldiva, P H; Alice, S H

1999-01-01

In this study, instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied to the determination of Sc, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Hf, Th, and U in lung samples from miners working in coal mines located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. These results were compared to those from a control group constituted of healthy individuals. The results showed that the elements determined exhibit considerable intersubject variability within a single group of individuals and the mean values of concentrations in miners' lungs were higher than those of normal individuals. Lung samples presented U concentrations varying from 11 to 890 micrograms/kg. Therefore, for some samples, the contribution of the uranium fission products in the analysis of La, Ce, Nd, and Sm was considered by determining the interference correction factors. The accuracy of the results was evaluated by analyzing certified reference materials.

Study of the atmospheric aerosol composition in equatorial Africa using PIXE as analytical technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maenhaut, W.; Akilimali, K.

1987-03-01

Small Nuclepore total filter holders and a single orifice 8-stage cascade impactor were used to collect atmospheric aerosol samples in Kinshasa, Zaire, and Butare, Rwanda. The samples were analyzed for about 20 elements by means of the PIXE technique. The results obtained for parallel samples, taken with two total filter holders and one cascade impactor, were generally in excellent agreement, suggesting that the different samplers collected very similar aerosol particle populations. Most elements were associated with a crustal dust dispersion source, which may include road dust dispersal. The Butare samples, particularly those collected during the night, were significantly influenced by biomass burning, as was deduced from enhanced filter blackness and noncrustal K levels. The pyrogenic component also contained P, S, Mn and Rb. Br and Pb were highly enriched at both locations, indicating that automotive sources had a strong influence on the aerosol composition.

Carbon and sulfur distributions and abundances in lunar fines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gibson, E. K., Jr.; Moore, G. W.

1973-01-01

Total sulfur abundances have been determined for 20 Apollo 14, 15, and 16 soil samples and one Apollo 14 breccia. Sulfur concentrations range from 474 to 844 microg S/g. Volatilization experiments on selected samples have been carried out using step-wise heating. Sample residues have been analyzed for their total carbon and sulfur abundances to establish the material balance in lunar fines for these two elements. Volatilization experiments have established that between 31 to 54 microg C/g remains in soils which have been heated at 1100 C for 24 hours under vacuum. The residual carbon is believed to be indigenous lunar carbon whereas all forms of carbon lost from samples below 1100 C is extralunar carbon. Total carbon and sulfur abundances taken from the literature have been used to show the depletion of volatile elements with increasing grade for the Apollo 14 breccias.

Radioactive sample effects on EDXRF spectra

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Worley, Christopher G

2008-01-01

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) is a rapid, straightforward method to determine sample elemental composition. A spectrum can be collected in a few minutes or less, and elemental content can be determined easily if there is adequate energy resolution. Radioactive alpha emitters, however, emit X-rays during the alpha decay process that complicate spectral interpretation. This is particularly noticeable when using a portable instrument where the detector is located in close proximity to the instrument analysis window held against the sample. A portable EDXRF instrument was used to collect spectra from specimens containing plutonium-239 (a moderate alpha emitter) and americium-241 (amore » heavy alpha emitter). These specimens were then analyzed with a wavelength dispersive XRF (WDXRF) instrument to demonstrate the differences to which sample radiation-induced X-ray emission affects the detectors on these two types of XRF instruments.« less

Uptake of Elements From Aerosols by Humans ~ A Case Study From Delhi & Bangalore Cities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anand, S.; Yadav, S.; Jain, V. K.

2006-05-01

Aerosol research has gained tremendous importance globally due to the cumulative effects of increasing industrialization and urbanization on aerosol production which can have an alarming impact on the climate of the planet as well as the health of its inhabitants. Therefore, there is an increasing need to study aerosols for all of their physicochemical and biological aspects on both local and global scales. World over extensive research has gone into studying the physical and the chemical aspects of aerosols. However, little information is yet available on the health impacts of aerosols particularly in the Asian context. Here we report uptake of various elements that are concentrated in aerosols by the human body in Delhi and Bangalore cities and their possible health effects. In many urban areas, for example in Delhi, inhalable fractions of aerosols are known to have high concentrations of elements such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Ba, Ni and Cr (Yadav and Rajamani 2004). Also aerosols in the North West part of India seem to be particularly enriched in these elements. If so, there is a high possibility of these elements getting into the human system either directly or indirectly through water and food. To determine the concentrations of these elements that are present in significant concentrations in the inhalable fractions of aerosols, human hair and blood samples are used as proxies. Both these regions have contrasting geographic and climatic conditions. Delhi (altitude : 213-305m above MSL) located on the fringes of the Thar desert which supplies considerable amount of dust, is semi-arid with annual rainfall of 60-80 cms & temperatures varying between 1° - 45°. Bangalore (altitude of 900m above MSL) receives a high annual rainfall of 80-100 cms and being located on the fringes of tropical forests of the Sahyadri Mountains (Western Ghats) receives little crustal contribution to the aerosols. Samples from least polluted mountainous areas of Himalayas (Gangothri) and Sahyadri (Ooty) were also collected as reference samples. All the samples were digested in a microwave system. Elemental analyses were carried out using both ICP-MS and ICP-AES methods using multi-element standard solutions from Merck. The elements analyzed include Al, Ca, Mg, Ni, Cu, Ba, Zn, Pb, Cr, Sr, K, Na, Si, and P in about 100 samples of blood and hair. Preliminary results indicate a possible human uptake of elements from the aerosols. In comparison to the international reference and local background values (Gangothri), Delhi and Bangalore samples of human hair and blood show significant enrichment of these elements. Samples from Gangothri are comparable to those of the international reference values. Delhi samples have much higher concentrations of several elements, especially Al, Zn, Pb and Cu. Although the Bangalore samples are also enriched compared to the reference values, they are much less enriched relative to the Delhi samples. Bangalore samples have negligible contributions from the crustal aerosols as compared to the Delhi samples where the crustal contributions seem to be very high. Elements enriched in the PM 10 aerosols or the respirable fractions include Ca, Mg, Al (crustal) and Ba, Zn,Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr (anthropogenic). In all the samples, hair seems to be a better long term indicator of elemental uptake compared to blood. The health effect of aerosols can be several as indicated by studies elsewhere and will be discussed.

Tracing footprints of environmental events in tree ring chemistry using neutron activation analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, Dagistan

The aim of this study is to identify environmental effects on tree-ring chemistry. It is known that industrial pollution, volcanic eruptions, dust storms, acid rain and similar events can cause substantial changes in soil chemistry. Establishing whether a particular group of trees is sensitive to these changes in soil environment and registers them in the elemental chemistry of contemporary growth rings is the over-riding goal of any Dendrochemistry research. In this study, elemental concentrations were measured in tree-ring samples of absolutely dated eleven modern forest trees, grown in the Mediterranean region, Turkey, collected and dated by the Malcolm and Carolyn Wiener Laboratory for Aegean and Near Eastern Dendrochronology laboratory at Cornell University. Correlations between measured elemental concentrations in the tree-ring samples were analyzed using statistical tests to answer two questions. Does the current concentration of a particular element depend on any other element within the tree? And, are there any elements showing correlated abnormal concentration changes across the majority of the trees? Based on the detailed analysis results, the low mobility of sodium and bromine, positive correlations between calcium, zinc and manganese, positive correlations between trace elements lanthanum, samarium, antimony, and gold within tree-rings were recognized. Moreover, zinc, lanthanum, samarium and bromine showed strong, positive correlations among the trees and were identified as possible environmental signature elements. New Dendrochemistry information found in this study would be also useful in explaining tree physiology and elemental chemistry in Pinus nigra species grown in Turkey. Elemental concentrations in tree-ring samples were measured using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) at the Pennsylvania State University Radiation Science and Engineering Center (RSEC). Through this study, advanced methodologies for methodological, computational and experimental NAA were developed to ensure an acceptable accuracy and certainty in the elemental concentration measurements in tree-ring samples. Two independent analysis methods of NAA were used; the well known k-zero method and a novel method developed in this study, called the Multi-isotope Iterative Westcott (MIW) method. The MIW method uses reaction rate probabilities for a group of isotopes, which can be calculated by a neutronic simulation or measured by experimentation, and determines the representative values for the neutron flux and neutron flux characterization parameters based on Westcott convention. Elemental concentration calculations for standard reference material and tree-ring samples were then performed using the MIW and k-zero analysis methods of the NAA and the results were cross verified. In the computational part of this study, a detailed burnup coupled neutronic simulation was developed to analyze real-time neutronic changes in a TRIGA Mark III reactor core, in this study, the Penn State Breazeale Reactor (PSBR) core. To the best of the author`s knowledge, this is the first burnup coupled neutronic simulation with realistic time steps and full fuel temperature profile for a TRIGA reactor using Monte Carlo Utility for Reactor Evolutions (MURE) code and Monte Carlo Neutral-Particle Code (MCNP) coupling. High fidelity and flexibility in the simulation was aimed to replicate the real core operation through the day. This approach resulted in an enhanced accuracy in neutronic representation of the PSBR core with respect to previous neutronic simulation models for the PSBR core. An important contribution was made in the NAA experimentation practices employed in Dendrochemistry studies at the RSEC. Automated laboratory control and analysis software for NAA measurements in the RSEC Radionuclide Applications Laboratory was developed. Detailed laboratory procedures were written in this study comprising preparation, handling and measurements of tree-ring samples in the Radionuclide Applications Laboratory.

Major and trace element chemistry of separated fragments from a hibonite-bearing Allende inclusion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, A. M.; Grossman, L.; Allen, J. M.

1978-01-01

The major and trace elements of separated fragments and a bulk sample from CG-11, a hibonite-bearing inclusion in the Allende meteorite, were analyzed. Major element abundances were used to determine the minerology of separated fragments. The high degree of correlation between Eu/Sm ratios and Lu/Yb ratios for the samples studied indicates that their rare earth element (REE) distributions are governed by two components. One, Lu-, Eu-rich, is probably hibonite; the other, depleted in these elements, seems to be associated with the secondary alteration phases, grossular, nepheline and anorthite. The REE distribution in CG-11 precludes melting events after formation of the secondary alteration phases, but a melting event involving the primary minerals cannot be excluded. The enrichment of Lu with respect to other measured REE in hibonite can be explained by present REE condensation models. Two Hf-bearing components, most likely hibonite and perovskite, are necessary to account for variations in Sc/Hf ratios in the fragments studied. The lithophile volatiles Na, Mn, Fe, Zn, and probably Cr increase in the same order as the amount of secondary alteration minerals; the volatile siderophile elements Co and Au, however, do not.

Determination of essential and toxic elements in clay soil commonly consumed by pregnant women in Tanzania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mwalongo, D.; Mohammed, N. K.

2013-10-01

A habit of eating clay soil especially among pregnant women is a common practice in Tanzania. This practice known as geophagy might introduce toxic elements in the consumer's body to endanger the health of the mother and her child. Therefore it is very important to have information on the elemental composition of the eaten soil so as to assess the safety nature of the habit. In this study 100 samples of clay soil, which were reported to be originating from five regions in Tanzania and are consumed by pregnant women were analyzed to determine their levels of essential and toxic elements. The analysis was carried out using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescent technique (EDXRF) of Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, Arusha. Essential elements Fe, Zn, Cu, Se and Mn and toxic elements As, Pb, Co, Ni, U and Th were detected in concentrations above WHO permissible limits in some of the samples. The results from this study show that the habit of eating soil is exposing the pregnant mothers and their children to metal toxicity which is detrimental to their health. Hence, further actions should be taken to discourage the habit of eating soil at all levels.

Enrichment and distribution of 24 elements within the sub-sieve particle size distribution ranges of fly ash from wastes incinerator plants.

PubMed

Raclavská, Helena; Corsaro, Agnieszka; Hartmann-Koval, Silvie; Juchelková, Dagmar

2017-12-01

The management of an increasing amount of municipal waste via incineration has been gaining traction. Fly ash as a by-product of incineration of municipal solid waste is considered a hazardous waste due to the elevated content of various elements. The enrichment and distribution of 24 elements in fly ash from three wastes incinerators were evaluated. Two coarse (>100 μm and <100 μm) and five sub-sieve (12-16, 16-23, 23-34, 34-49, and 49-100 μm) particle size fractions separated on a cyclosizer system were analyzed. An enhancement in the enrichment factor was observed in all samples for the majority of elements in >100 μm range compared with <100 μm range. The enrichment factor of individual elements varied considerably within the samples as well as the sub-sieve particle size ranges. These variations were attributed primarily to: (i) the vaporization and condensation mechanisms, (ii) the different design of incineration plants, (iii) incineration properties, (iv) the type of material being incinerated, and (v) the affinity of elements. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

MERCURY MEASUREMENTS FOR SOLIDS MADE RAPIDLY, SIMPLY, AND INEXPENSIVELY

EPA Science Inventory

While traditional methods for determining mercury in solid samples involve the use of aggressive chemicals to dissolve the matrix and the use of other chemicals to properly reduce the mercury to the volatile elemental form, pyrolysis-based analyzers can be used by directly weighi...

Potential Nucleosynthetic Sources of the Titanium Isotope Variations in Solar System Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, N. H.; Fehr, M. A.; Akram, W. M.; Parkinson, I. J.; Schönbächler, M.

2012-09-01

The Ti isotope ratios of a comprehensive sample suite of solar system material were analyzed by MC-ICPMS. This data was then used to evaluate nucleosynthetic models for the source of isotopic correlations observed in Iron group elements and Zr.

Portable total reflection x-ray fluorescence analysis in the identification of unknown laboratory hazards

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Ying, E-mail: liu.ying.48r@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp; Imashuku, Susumu; Sasaki, Nobuharu

In this study, a portable total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer was used to analyze unknown laboratory hazards that precipitated on exterior surfaces of cooling pipes and fume hood pipes in chemical laboratories. With the aim to examine the accuracy of TXRF analysis for the determination of elemental composition, analytical results were compared with those of wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry, energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, x-ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Detailed comparison of data confirmed that the TXRF method itself was not sufficient tomore » determine all the elements (Z > 11) contained in the samples. In addition, results suggest that XRD should be combined with XPS in order to accurately determine compound composition. This study demonstrates that at least two analytical methods should be used in order to analyze the composition of unknown real samples.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bačeva, Katerina; Stafilov, Trajče, E-mail: trajcest@pmf.ukim.mk; Šajn, Robert

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of some toxic elements in topsoil and subsoil, focusing on the identification of natural and anthropogenic element sources in the small region of rare As–Sb–Tl mineralization outcrop and abandoned mine Allchar known for the highest natural concentration of Tl in soil worldwide. The samples of soil and sediments after total digestion were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) and inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES). Factor analysis (FA) was used to identify and characterize element associations. Six associations of elements were determined by the method of multivariate statistics: Rb–Ta–K–Nb–Ga–Sn–Ba–Bi–Li–Be–(La–Eu)–Hf–Zr–Zn–In–Pd–Ag–Pt–Mg;more » Tl–As–Sb–Hg; Te–S–Ag–Pt–Al–Sc–(Gd–Lu)–Y; Fe–Cu–V–Ge–Co–In; Pd–Zr–Hf–W–Be and Ni–Mn–Co–Cr–Mg. The purpose of the assessment was to determine the nature and extent of potential contamination as well as to broadly assess possible impacts to human health and the environment. The results from the analysis of the collected samples in the vicinity of the mine revealed that As and Tl elements have the highest median values. Higher median values for Sb are obviously as a result of the past mining activities and as a result of area surface phenomena in the past. - Highlights: • Soil and river sediments were analyzed from Sb–As–Tl Allchar locality. • An increased content of certain toxic elements for environment was determined. • Highest As and Tl contents are obtained in the close vicinity of Allchar mine. • River sediments portray 160 times higher content of Sb than EU values. • The results classify Allchar as probably the highest natural Tl-deposit worldwide.« less

Determination of macro and trace elements in multivitamin dietary supplements by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sampling.

PubMed

Krawczyk, Magdalena

2014-01-01

In this research, three different commercially available multivitamin dietary supplements were analyzed by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GFAAS) with slurry sampling. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Se were determined and compared to the amounts stated by producers. The safety of multivitamin dietary supplements depends on various factors including the manufacturing process and the purity and origins of the raw ingredients. For this reason, this research determined concentrations of several toxic elements (As, Cd, and Pb). Microwave-assisted high pressure Teflon bomb digestion was used to determine total amounts of elements in samples. Samples were prepared as slurries at a concentration of 0.1% (m/v) for macro elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Se) and at a concentration of % (m/v) for trace elements (As, Cd, and Pb) in acidic media (3M HNO3). The influence of acid concentration, Triton X-100 addition, sonication time, and sonication power on absorbance was investigated. The accuracy of this method was validated by analyses of NRCC LUTS-1 (Lobster hepatopancreas), NRCC DORM-1 (Dogfish Muscle), NRCC DOLT-2 (Dogfish Liver), NBS SRM 1570 (Spinach Leaves) and NBS SRM 1573 (Tomato Leaves) certified reference materials. The measured elements contents in these reference materials (except NRCC DOLT-2) were in satisfactory agreement with the certified values according to the t-test for a 95% confidence level. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Large scale intercomparison of aerosol trace element analysis by different analytical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bombelka, E.; Richter, F.-W.; Ries, H.; Wätjen, U.

1984-04-01

The general agreement of PIXE analysis with other methods (INAA, XRF, AAS, OES-ICP, and PhAA) is very good based on the analysis of filter pieces taken from 250 aerosol samples. It is better than 5% for Pb and Zn, better than 10% for V, Cr, and Mn, indicating that the accuracy of PIXE analysis can be within 10%. For elements such as Cd and Sb, difficult to analyze by PIXE because of their low mass content in the sample, the agreement is given mainly by the reproducibility of the method (20% to 30%). Similar agreement is found for sulfur, after taking account of the depth distribution of the aerosol in the filter.

Chemical analysis and geochemical associations in Devonian black shale core samples from Martin County, Kentucky; Carroll and Washington counties, Ohio; Wise County, Virginia; and Overton County, Tennessee

USGS Publications Warehouse

Leventhal, Joel S.

1979-01-01

Core samples from Devonian shales from five localities in the Appalachian Basin have been analyzed for major, minor, and trace constituents. The contents of major elements are rather similar; however, the minor constituents, organic C, S, PO4, and CO3, show variations by a factor of 10. Trace elements Mo, Ni, Cu, V, Co, U, Zn, Hg, As, and Mn show variations that can be related graphically and statistically to the minor constituents. Down-hole plots show the relationships most clearly. Mn is associated with CO3 content, the other trace elements are strongly Controlled by organic C. Amounts of organic C are generally in the range of 3-6 percent, and S is in the range of 2-5 percent. Trace-element amounts show the following general ranges (ppm, parts per million)- Co, 20-40; Cu,40-70; U, 10-40; As, 20-40, V, 150-300; Ni, 80-150; high values are as much as twice these values. The organic C was probably the concentrating agent, whereas the organic C and sulfide S created an environment for preservation or immobilization of trace elements. Closely spaced samples showing an abrupt transition in color from black to gray and gray to black shale show similar effects of trace-element changes, that is, black shale contains enhanced amounts of organic C and trace elements. Ratios of trace elements to organic C or sulfide S were relatively constant even though deposition rates varied from 10 to 300 meters in 5 million years.

Proton Induced X-ray Emission Spectroscopy of Red Wine Samples Using the Union College Pelletron Accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuff, Katie; Labrake, Scott

2010-11-01

A 1-megavolt tandem electrostatic Pelletron particle accelerator housed at Union College was used to measure the elemental composition and concentration of homemade Cabernet and Merlot red wine samples. A beam of 1.8-MeV protons directed at an approximately 12-μm thin Mylar substrate onto which 8-μL of concentrated red wine was dried caused inner shell electrons to be ejected from the target nuclei and these vacancies are filled through electronic transitions of higher orbital electrons accompanied by the production of an x-ray photon characteristic of the elemental composition of the target. This is the PIXE Method. Data on the intensity versus energy of the x-rays were collected using an Amptek silicon drift detector and were analyzed to determine the elemental composition and the samples were found to contain P, S, K, Cl, Ca, Sc, Mn, Al, Fe, & Co. Elemental concentrations were determined using the analysis package GUPIX. It is hypothesized that the cobalt seen is a direct result of the uptake by the grapes and as a product of the fermentation process a complex of vitamin B12 is produced.

Inertial impaction air sampling device

DOEpatents

Dewhurst, Katharine H.

1990-01-01

An inertial impactor to be used in an air sampling device for collection of respirable size particles in ambient air which may include a graphite furnace as the impaction substrate in a small-size, portable, direct analysis structure that gives immediate results and is totally self-contained allowing for remote and/or personal sampling. The graphite furnace collects suspended particles transported through the housing by means of the air flow system, and these particles may be analyzed for elements, quantitatively and qualitatively, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Inertial impaction air sampling device

DOEpatents

Dewhurst, K.H.

1987-12-10

An inertial impactor to be used in an air sampling device for collection of respirable size particles in ambient air which may include a graphite furnace as the impaction substrate in a small-size, portable, direct analysis structure that gives immediate results and is totally self-contained allowing for remote and/or personal sampling. The graphite furnace collects suspended particles transported through the housing by means of the air flow system, and these particles may be analyzed for elements, quantitatively and qualitatively, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 3 figs.

Levels of major and trace elements, including rare earth elements, and ²³⁸U in Croatian tap waters.

PubMed

Fiket, Željka; Rožmarić, Martina; Krmpotić, Matea; Benedik, Ljudmila

2015-05-01

Concentrations of 46 elements, including major, trace, and rare earth elements, and (238)U in Croatian tap waters were investigated. Selected sampling locations include tap waters from various hydrogeological regions, i.e., different types of aquifers, providing insight into the range of concentrations of studied elements and (238)U activity concentrations in Croatian tap waters. Obtained concentrations were compared with the Croatian maximum contaminant levels for trace elements in water intended for human consumption, as well as WHO and EPA drinking water standards. Concentrations in all analyzed tap waters were found in accordance with Croatian regulations, except tap water from Šibenik in which manganese in concentration above maximum permissible concentration (MPC) was measured. Furthermore, in tap water from Osijek, levels of arsenic exceeded the WHO guidelines and EPA regulations. In general, investigated tap waters were found to vary considerably in concentrations of studied elements, including (238)U activity concentrations. Causes of variability were further explored using statistical methods. Composition of studied tap waters was found to be predominately influenced by hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer, at regional and local level, the existing redox conditions, and the household plumbing system. Rare earth element data, including abundances and fractionation patterns, complemented the characterization and facilitated the interpretation of factors affecting the composition of the analyzed tap waters.

Apollo 15 green glass - Compositional distribution and petrogenesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steele, Alison M.; Colson, Russell O.; Korotev, Randy L.; Haskin, Larry A.

1992-01-01

We have characterized a comprehensive suite of individual green-glass beads from Apollo 15 soil to determine interelement behavior and to constrain petrogenetic relationships. We analyzed 365 particles for trace elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis and analyzed 52 of them, selected to cover the compositional ranges observed for trace elements, for major elements by electron microprobe analysis. We confirm the observation of Delano (1979) that the beads comprise discrete compositional groups, although two of the groups he defined are further split on the basis of trace-element compositions. Each of the resulting seven groups has distinct average rare-earth abundances. The coherence between major- and trace-element data was masked in previous studies by imprecision, correlated error, and nonrepresentative sampling of the different groups. Most of the compositional characteristics of the green glasses can be explained by a model for batch equilibrium melting of a nearly homogeneous, ultramafic source region, when the complicating effects of high pressure and low oxygen fugacity are taken into account. The previously puzzling behavior of Ni and Co as apparently incompatible elements may arise from partial reduction of those elements to the zero oxidation state, resulting in low mineral/melt partition coefficients. The model also offers explanations for why the green glasses form boomerang-shaped trends on many two-element variation diagrams and why certain compositions (Groups A and D) are more abundant than glasses with other compositions.

Geochemical properties of topsoil around the coal mine and thermoelectric power plant.

PubMed

Stafilov, Trajče; Šajn, Robert; Arapčeska, Mila; Kungulovski, Ivan; Alijagić, Jasminka

2018-03-19

The results of the systematic study of the spatial distribution of trace metals in surface soil over the Bitola region, Republic of Macedonia, known for its coal mine and thermo-electrical power plant activities are reported. The investigated region (3200 km 2 ) is covered by a sparse sampling grid of 5 × 5 km, but in the urban zone and around the thermoelectric power plant the sampling grid is denser (1 × 1 km). In total, 229 soil samples from 149 locations were collected including top-soil (0-5 cm) and bottom-soil samples (20-30 cm and 0-30 cm). Inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was applied for the determinations of 21 elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V and Zn). Based on the results of factor analyses, three geogenic associations of elements have been defined: F1 (Fe, Ni, V, Co, Cr, Mn and Li), F2 (Zn, B, Cu, Cd, Na and K) and F3 (Ca, Sr, Mg, Ba and Al). Even typical trace metals such as As, Cd, Cu, Ni, P, Pb and Zn are not isolated into anthropogenic geochemical associations by multivariate statistical methods still show some trends of local anthropogenic enrichment. The distribution maps for each analyzed element is showing the higher content of these elements in soil samples collected around the thermoelectric power plants than their average content for the soil samples collected from the whole Bitola Region. It was found that this enrichment is a result of the pollution by fly ash from coal burning which deposited near the plant having a high content of these elements.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alan W. Scaroni; David C. Glick

This project generated and provided coal samples and accompanying analytical data for research by DOE contractors and others. The five-year contract and a six-month no-cost extension have been completed. The Final Technical Progress Report is being prepared. All activities specified under the five-year contract and its six-month no-cost extension have been completed. Eleven DECS samples were collected, processed to a variety of particle sizes, heat-sealed in foil laminate bags under argon, and placed in refrigerated storage. All were analyzed for basic chemical composition, inorganic major and trace element composition including hazardous air pollutant elements, petrographic composition and characteristics, thermoplastic behaviormore » (if applicable), and other properties relevant to commercial utilization. Most were also analyzed by NMR, py/gc/ms, and a standardized liquefaction test; trends and relationships observed were evaluated and summarized. Twenty-two DECS samples collected under the previous contract received further processing, and most of these were subjected to organic geochemical and standardized liquefaction tests as well. Selected DECS samples were monitored annually to evaluate the effectiveness of foil laminate bags for long-term sample storage. Twenty-three PSOC samples collected under previous contracts and purged with argon before storage were also maintained and distributed, for a total of 56 samples covered by the contract. During the contract, 804 samples in 1586 containers, 2109 data printouts, and individual data items from 34208 samples were distributed. In the subject quarter, 25 samples, 18 data printouts, and individual data items from 1374 samples were distributed. All DECS samples are now available for immediate distribution at minus 6 mm (-1/4 inch), minus 0.85 mm (-20 mesh U.S.), and minus 0.25 mm (-60 mesh U.S.).« less

40 CFR Appendix Q to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Lead in Particulate Matter as PM10 Collected From...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

....1.2) 46.2 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter for 24 hours using active sampling at... PM10 is performed on each individual 24-hour sample. Gravimetric mass analysis of PM10c filters is not... Pb in PM10 filters collected with the PM10c sampler. If these filters are analyzed for elements other...

40 CFR Appendix Q to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Lead in Particulate Matter as PM10 Collected From...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

....1.2) 46.2 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter for 24 hours using active sampling at... PM10 is performed on each individual 24-hour sample. Gravimetric mass analysis of PM10c filters is not... Pb in PM10 filters collected with the PM10c sampler. If these filters are analyzed for elements other...

40 CFR Appendix Q to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Lead in Particulate Matter as PM10 Collected From...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

....1.2) 46.2 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter for 24 hours using active sampling at... PM10 is performed on each individual 24-hour sample. Gravimetric mass analysis of PM10c filters is not... Pb in PM10 filters collected with the PM10c sampler. If these filters are analyzed for elements other...

40 CFR Appendix Q to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Lead in Particulate Matter as PM10 Collected From...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....1.2) 46.2 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter for 24 hours using active sampling at... PM10 is performed on each individual 24-hour sample. Gravimetric mass analysis of PM10c filters is not... Pb in PM10 filters collected with the PM10c sampler. If these filters are analyzed for elements other...

40 CFR Appendix Q to Part 50 - Reference Method for the Determination of Lead in Particulate Matter as PM10 Collected From...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....1.2) 46.2 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter for 24 hours using active sampling at... PM10 is performed on each individual 24-hour sample. Gravimetric mass analysis of PM10c filters is not... Pb in PM10 filters collected with the PM10c sampler. If these filters are analyzed for elements other...

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 2010 through September 2011) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the Clark Fork basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dodge, Kent A.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Dyke, Jessica

2013-01-01

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to near Missoula, Montana, as part of a monitoring program in the upper Clark Fork basin of western Montana; additional water samples were collected from near Galen to near Missoula at select sites as part of a supplemental sampling program. The sampling program was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork basin, with emphasis on trace elements associated with historic mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork and selected tributaries. Water samples were collected periodically at 20 sites from October 2010 through September 2011. Bed-sediment and biota samples were collected once at 14 sites during August 2011. This report presents the analytical results and quality-assurance data for water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected at sites from October 2010 through September 2011. Water-quality data include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Turbidity was analyzed for water samples collected at the four sites where seasonal daily values of turbidity were being determined. Daily values of suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for four sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Statistical summaries of water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data for sites in the upper Clark Fork basin are provided for the period of record since 1985.

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 2009 through September 2010) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the Clark Fork basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dodge, Kent A.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Dyke, Jessica

2012-01-01

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to near Missoula, Montana, as part of a monitoring program in the upper Clark Fork basin. The sampling program was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork basin of western Montana, with emphasis on trace elements associated with historic mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork and selected tributaries. Water samples were collected periodically at 20 sites from October 2009 through September 2010. Bed-sediment and biota samples were collected once at 13 sites during August 2010. This report presents the analytical results and quality-assurance data for water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected at sites from October 2009 through September 2010. Water-quality data include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Turbidity was analyzed for water samples collected at the four sites where seasonal daily values of turbidity were being determined. Daily values of suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for four sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Statistical summaries of water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data for sites in the upper Clark Fork basin are provided for the period of record since 1985.

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 2011 through September 2012) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dodge, Kent A.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Dyke, Jessica

2014-01-01

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to near Missoula, Montana, as part of a monitoring program in the upper Clark Fork Basin of western Montana. The sampling program was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to characterize aquatic resources in the Clark Fork Basin, with emphasis on trace elements associated with historic mining and smelting activities. Sampling sites were located on the Clark Fork and selected tributaries. Water samples were collected periodically at 20 sites from October 2011 through September 2012. Bed-sediment and biota samples were collected once at 13 sites during August 2012. This report presents the analytical results and quality-assurance data for water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected at sites from October 2011 through September 2012. Water-quality data include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Turbidity was analyzed for water samples collected at the four sites where seasonal daily values of turbidity were being determined. Daily values of suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for four sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Statistical summaries of water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data for sites in the upper Clark Fork Basin are provided for the period of record since 1985.

Develop Techniques for Ion Implantation of PLZT for Adaptive Optics

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-11-01

WL-TR-89-26 FIGURES (Continued) Fizure Page 20 EDX elemental spectrum from perovskite region of the sample shown in Fig. 15. 65 21 EDX elemental...pyroelectric response. 126 84 Result of doping PZT with La and Mn (Ref. 7). 127 85 APW results along the lin for several perovskite - type compounds and ReO 2...structure of the calcined powder was analyzed and shown to be mainly the hexagonal/rhombohedral phase within 17 WL-TR-89-26 the perovskite structure of

Evaluation of dietary exposure to minerals, trace elements and heavy metals from the muscle tissue of the lionfish Pterois volitans (Linnaeus 1758).

PubMed

Hoo Fung, Leslie A; Antoine, Johann M R; Grant, Charles N; Buddo, Dayne St A

2013-10-01

Twenty-five samples of Pterois volitans caught in Jamaican waters were analyzed for 25 essential, non-essential and toxic elements using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GF-AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The mean values for calcium (355 mg/kg), copper (107 μg/kg), iron (0.81 mg/kg), potassium (3481 mg/kg), magnesium (322 mg/kg), manganese (0.04 mg/kg), selenium (0.47 mg/kg), sodium (700 mg/kg) and zinc (4.46 mg/kg) were used to estimate dietary intake. The percentage contribution to provisional tolerable weekly intake for a 70 kg male and a 65 kg female were also estimated for the toxic elements arsenic (1.28% M, 1.38% F), cadmium (0.26% M. 0.28% F), mercury (3.85% M, 4.15% F) and lead (0.17% M, 0.18% F). To further assess the risk of mercury toxicity and the role of mitigation provided by selenium, selenium-mercury molar ratios were calculated for all samples. All samples were shown to have a molar excess of selenium. In addition the suggested selenium health benefit value was calculated, and was positive for all samples. It was concluded that P. volitans appears to contribute modestly to mineral and trace element nutrition, while not being a significant contributor to dietary exposure of toxic elements. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Water-Quality Data for Selected National Park Units within the Southern Colorado Plateau Network, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, Water Years 2005 and 2006

USGS Publications Warehouse

Macy, Jamie P.; Monroe, Stephen A.

2006-01-01

The National Park Service initiated a Level 1 Water-Quality Inventory program to provide water-quality data to park managers so informed natural resource management decisions could be made. Level 1 water-quality data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey Arizona Water Science Center at 57 sites in 13 National Park units located in the Southern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring network in water years 2005 and 2006. These data describe the current water-quality at selected sites within the park units and provide information for monitoring future trends. Water samples were collected three times at each type of site including wells, springs, seeps, tinajas, rivers, a lake, and an irrigation ditch. Field measurements were taken at each site and they included pH, specific conductance, temperature, barometric pressure, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, turbidity, and discharge rates where applicable. Water samples collected were sent to the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory and analyzed for major ions, trace elements, and nutrients. The National Water Quality Laboratory also analyzed selected samples for mercury and petroleum hydrocarbons. Additional samples at selected sites were collected and analyzed for cyanide, radiochemistry, and suspended sediment by U.S. Geological Survey contract labs. Fecal-indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli) were sampled for at selected sites as another indicator of water quality. Quality control for this study was achieved through proper training of field personnel, use of standard U.S. Geological Survey field and laboratory protocols, collection of sample blanks and replicates, and a thorough review of the water-quality analyses. Measured field pH ranged from 6.0 to 8.8, within normal range for springs and rivers, at most sites. Concentrations of dissolved solids ranged from 48 to 8,680 mg/L and the majority of samples had concentrations of dissolved solids below 900 mg/L. Trace-element concentrations at most sites were at or near the laboratory reporting levels. The highest overall trace-element concentrations were found at U.S. Highway 160 Spring near Park Entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. Concentrations of uranium in samples at all sites ranged from below the detection limit to 55.7 ?g/L. Water samples from selected sites were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons and concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons were at or above the laboratory detection limit in samples at six National Park units. Ten sites were sampled for Escherichia coli and positive counts were found at 9 out of the ten sites, the highest colony counts were found at Chinle Creek at Chinle, AZ in Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Measured concentrations of dissolved ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate were at or near laboratory reporting levels at most sites; nitrate concentrations ranged from below the reporting limit (0.047 mg/L) to 9.77 mg/L. Samples that were analyzed for mercury had concentrations below or at the laboratory reporting level. Concentrations of cyanide were less than the laboratory reporting level for all samples except two, Spruce Tree House Spring in Mesa Verde National Park and Pine Tree Canyon Tinaja in Canyon de Chelly National Monument, which had average concentrations of .042 and .011 ?g/L respectively. Gross alpha/beta radioactivity counts were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level except for samples from Casa Chiquita Well Middle at Chaco Culture National Historical Park which averaged 35 pCi/L. Suspended-sediment concentrations were variable and ranged from 10 to 150,000 mg/L.

Organic Elemental Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ma, T. S.; Wang, C. Y.

1984-01-01

Presents a literature review on methods used to analyze organic elements. Topic areas include methods for: (1) analyzing carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen; (2) analyzing oxygen, sulfur, and halogens; (3) analyzing other elements; (4) simultaneously determining several elements; and (5) determing trace elements. (JN)

Quality of ground water in Clark County, Washington, 1988

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Turney, G.L.

1990-01-01

Water samples were collected from 76 wells throughout Clark County, in southwest Washington, during April and May 1988, and were analyzed from concentrations of major ions, silica, nitrate, phosphorus, aluminum, manganese, radon, and bacteria. Samples from 20 wells were analyzed for concentrations of trace elements and organic compounds, including most of those on the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) priority pollutant list. Dissolved solids concentrations range from 12 to 245 mg/L, with a median concentration of 132 mg/L. The major dissolved constituents are calcium, bicarbonate, and silica, and, in some samples, sodium. Nitrate concentrations exceeded 1.0 mg/L throughout the Vancouvermore » urban area, and were as large as 6.7 mg/L. Comparison with limited historical data indicates that nitrate concentrations were somewhat correlated, possibly indicating similar sources. Volatile organic compound, including tetrachloroethane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane, were detected in samples from three wells in the Vancouver area. Trace amounts of volatile organic compounds were reported in samples from several other wells, but at concentrations too close to analytical detection limits to ascertain that they were in the groundwater. Trace elements and radiochemical constituents were present at small levels indicating natural sources for these constituents. Only pH, turbidity, iron, manganese, and total coliform bacteria had values that did not meet USEPA Drinking Water Standards.« less

Radionuclides and toxic elements transfer from the princess dump to water in Roodepoort, South Africa.

PubMed

Dlamini, S G; Mathuthu, M M; Tshivhase, V M

2016-03-01

High concentrations of radionuclides and toxic elements in gold mine tailings facilities present a health hazard to the environment and people living near that area. Soil and water samples from selected areas around the Princess Mine dump were collected. Soil sampling was done on the surface (15 cm) and also 100 cm below the surface. Water samples were taken from near the dump, mid-stream and the flowing part of the stream (drainage pipe) passing through Roodepoort from the mine dump. Soil samples were analyzed by gamma-ray spectroscopy using a HPGe detector to determine the activity concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (4) (​40)K from the activities of the daughter nuclides in the respective decay chains. The average activity concentrations for uranium and thorium in soil were calculated to be 129 ± 36.1 Bq/kg and 18.1 ± 4.01 Bq/kg, respectively. Water samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. Transfer factors for uranium and thorium from soil to water (at point A closest to dump) were calculated to be 0.494 and 0.039, respectively. At point Z2, which is furthest from the dump, they were calculated to be 0.121 and 0.004, respectively. These transfer factors indicate that there is less translocation of the radionuclides as the water flows. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On the performance of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for direct determination of trace metals in lubricating oils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Lijuan; Cao, Fan; Xiu, Junshan; Bai, Xueshi; Motto-Ros, Vincent; Gilon, Nicole; Zeng, Heping; Yu, Jin

2014-09-01

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) provides a technique to directly determine metals in viscous liquids and especially in lubricating oils. A specific laser ablation configuration of a thin layer of oil applied on the surface of a pure aluminum target was used to evaluate the analytical figures of merit of LIBS for elemental analysis of lubricating oils. Among the analyzed oils, there were a certified 75cSt blank mineral oil, 8 virgin lubricating oils (synthetic, semi-synthetic, or mineral and of 2 different manufacturers), 5 used oils (corresponding to 5 among the 8 virgin oils), and a cooking oil. The certified blank oil and 4 virgin lubricating oils were spiked with metallo-organic standards to obtain laboratory reference samples with different oil matrix. We first established calibration curves for 3 elements, Fe, Cr, Ni, with the 5 sets of laboratory reference samples in order to evaluate the matrix effect by the comparison among the different oils. Our results show that generalized calibration curves can be built for the 3 analyzed elements by merging the measured line intensities of the 5 sets of spiked oil samples. Such merged calibration curves with good correlation of the merged data are only possible if no significant matrix effect affects the measurements of the different oils. In the second step, we spiked the remaining 4 virgin oils and the cooking oils with Fe, Cr and Ni. The accuracy and the precision of the concentration determination in these prepared oils were then evaluated using the generalized calibration curves. The concentrations of metallic elements in the 5 used lubricating oils were finally determined.

Elemental and chemical characterization of dolphin enamel and dentine using X-ray and Raman microanalyzes (Cetacea: Delphinoidea and Inioidea).

PubMed

Loch, Carolina; Swain, Michael V; Fraser, Sara J; Gordon, Keith C; Kieser, Jules A; Fordyce, R Ewan

2014-01-01

Dolphins show increased tooth number and simplified tooth shape compared to most mammals, together with a simpler ultrastructural organization and less demanding biomechanical function. However, it is unknown if these factors are also reflected in the chemical composition of their teeth. Here, the bulk chemical composition and elemental distribution in enamel and dentine of extant dolphins were characterized and interpreted using X-ray and spectroscopy techniques. Teeth of 10 species of Delphinida were analyzed by WDX, EDX and Raman spectroscopy. For most of the species sampled, the mineral content was higher in enamel than in dentine, increasing from inner towards outer enamel. The transition from dentine to enamel was marked by an increase in concentration of the major components Ca and P, but also in Na and Cl. Mg decreased from dentine to enamel. Concentrations of Sr and F were often low and below detection limits, but F peaked at the outer enamel region for some species. Raman spectroscopy analyzes showed characteristics similar to carbonated hydroxyapatite, with the strongest peak for the phosphate PO4(3-) stretching mode at 960-961cm(-1). Dentine samples revealed a higher diversity of peaks representative of organic components and proteins than enamel. The similar distribution pattern and small variation in average concentration of major and minor elements in dentine and enamel of dolphins suggest that they are subject to strong physiological control. A clear trend of the elemental variations for all dolphin species sampled suggests that the general pattern of tooth chemistry is conserved among the Mammalia. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comprehensive risk assessment and source identification of selected heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, As) in tidal saltmarsh sediments of Shuangtai Estuary, China.

PubMed

Liu, Chang-Fa; Li, Bing; Wang, Yi-Ting; Liu, Yuan; Cai, Heng-Jiang; Wei, Hai-Feng; Wu, Jia-Wen; Li, Jin

2017-10-06

Heavy metals do not degrade and can remain in the environment for a long time. In this study, we analyzed the effects of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, and As, on environmental quality, pollutant enrichment, ecological hazard, and source identification of elements in sediments using data collected from samples taken from Shuangtai tidal wetland. The comprehensive pollution indices were used to assess environmental quality; fuzzy similarity analysis and geoaccumulation index were used to analyze pollution accumulation; correlation matrix, principal component analysis, and clustering analysis were used to analyze pollution source; environmental risk index and ecological risk index were used to assess ecological risk. The results showed that the environmental quality was either clean or almost clean. Pollutant enrichment analysis showed that the four sub-regions had similar pollution-causing metals to the background values of the soil element of the Liao River Plain, which were ranked according to their similarity. Source identification showed that all the elements were correlated. Ecological hazard analysis showed that the environmental risk index in the study area was less than zero, posing a low ecological risk. Ecological risk of the six elements was as follows: As > Cd > Hg > Cu > Pb > Zn.

Elemental Analysis and Radionuclides Monitoring of Beach Black Sand at North of Nile Delta, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Abdallah; Fayez-Hassan, M.; Mansour, N. A.; Mubarak, Fawzia; Ahmed, Talaat Salah; Hassanin, W. F.

2017-12-01

A study was carried out on the concentrations of elements presented in beach black sand samples collected from North of Nile Delta along Mediterranean Coast using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) as an effective analysis technique, especially for monitoring elements. The Egyptian Research Reactor-2 (ETRR-2) as a facility was used for the samples irradiation in the thermal mode of a neutron flux 3 × 1011 n/cm2 s. Natural radioactive elements, rare element and heavy elements as U, Th, La, Lu, Sm, Ce, Nd, Eu, Gd, Sc, Tb, Yb, As, Br, Na, Sb, Ba, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Hf, Sr, Ta, Zn and Zr were determined with concentrations average values 16.3, 78.8, 195.4, 3.3, 31.3, 445.1, 223, 7.2, 8.5, 97.1, 3.6, 31.1, 6.1, 24.5, 27,236.8, 1.42, 1327.7, 81.1, 1814.3, 263,735, 0.1, 237.3, 878.7, 20.8, 671.1 and 6225.9 (mg/kg), respectively. The experimental data results were analyzed to evidence any correlations of these elements as well as to know the geological formation in the study area. The elements concentrations in the black sand samples were found higher than the world average crustal soil values except for As and Sb. Results were compared with similar beach black sand in previous studies. The enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I geo) for heavy elements were presented to evaluate the contamination rate. We can summarize that exposure for natural radionuclides (U and Th) in this area were still within the acceptable limits due to little time of exposure. Therefore, the black sands from North of Nile Delta are not recommended for use in building constructions due to high radioactive doses.

Geochemical patterns in soils in and around Siddipet, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

PubMed

Dantu, Sujatha

2010-11-01

This paper reports the first results of geochemical survey carried out in and around Siddipet, taking soil (topsoil 0-25 cm and subsoil 70-95 cm) as the sampling media. The data were obtained in a consistent way from 61 sites. The samples were analyzed for 29 elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr, Th, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr, Si, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ti, and P) by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and baseline levels for these elements are presented. Results reveal that the correlation between the geochemical patterns in the soils developed on different litho-variants is not straight forward, but some general trends can be observed. Regional parent materials and pedogenesis are the primary factors influencing the concentrations of trace elements while anthropogenic activities have secondary influence.

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 2012 through September 2013) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the Clark Fork Basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dodge, Kent A.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Dyke, Jessica

2014-01-01

This report presents the analytical results and quality-assurance data for water-quality, bed-sediment, and biota samples collected at sites from October 2012 through September 2013. Water-quality data include concentrations of selected major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment. Turbidity and dissolved organic carbon were analyzed for water samples collected at the four sites where seasonal daily values of turbidity were being determined. Daily values of mean suspended-sediment concentration and suspended-sediment discharge were determined for four sites. Bed-sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine-grained fraction. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Statistical sum-maries of water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data for sites in the upper Clark Fork Basin are provided for the period of record.

Nuclear analytical techniques in medicine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cesareo, R.

1988-01-01

This book acquaints one with the fundamental principles and the instrumentation relevant to analytical technique based on atomic and nuclear physics, as well as present and future biomedical applications. Besides providing a theoretical description of the physical phenomena, a large part of the book is devoted to applications in the medical and biological field, particularly in hematology, forensic medicine and environmental science. This volume reviews methods such as the possibility of carrying out rapid multi-element analysis of trace elements on biomedical samples, in vitro and in vivo, by XRF-analysis; the ability of the PIXE-microprobe to analyze in detail and tomore » map trace elements in fragments of biomedical samples or inside the cells; the potentiality of in vivo nuclear activation analysis for diagnostic purposes. Finally, techniques are described such as radiation scattering (elastic and inelastic scattering) and attenuation measurements which will undoubtedly see great development in the immediate future.« less

Chemical Composition and Oxidation State of Iron-Containing Aerosol Particles Over West Antarctic Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, S.; Yu, S.; Lai, B.; Gao, Y.

2017-12-01

Iron is a limiting micronutrient element critical for the marine ecosystem. In the extensive high-nutrient low-chlorophyll (HNLC) regions of the Southern Ocean, the activities of phytoplankton are partly controlled by iron (Fe) from different sources, including atmospheric deposition. Among important properties of atmospheric Fe are the elemental composition and Fe oxidation state of Fe-containing aerosol particles, as these properties affect aerosol Fe solubility. To explore these issues, aerosol samples were collected at Palmer Station in West Antarctic Peninsula. Samples were analyzed by submicron synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy for the Fe oxidation state and elemental composition of aerosol particles. The morphological information of aerosol particles was also observed by the high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, revealing possible sources and formation processes of iron-containing particles. More detailed results will be discussed in this presentation.

Source Apportionment of PM2.5 Mass and Optical Attenuation Over an Ecologically Sensitive Zone in Central India by Positive Matrix Factorization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nirmalkar, J.; Raman, R. S.

2016-12-01

Ambient PM2.5 samples (N=366) were collected over an ecologically sensitive zone (Van Vihar National Park) in Bhopal, Central India for two years (01 January, 2012 to 31 December, 2013). Samples were collected using three co-located Mini-Vol® samplers on Teflon, Nylon, and Quartz filter substrates. The aerosol was then chemically characterized for water-soluble inorganic ions, elements, and carbon fractions (elemental carbon and organic carbon) using ion chromatography, ED-XRF, and thermal-optical EC/OC analyzer, respectively. The optical attenuation (at 370 nm and 800 nm) of PM2.5 aerosols was also determined by optical transmissometry (OT-21). The application of Positive matrix factorization (PMF) to a combination of PM2.5 mass, its ions, elements, carbon fractions, and optical attenuation and its outcomes will be discussed.

Investigations of calcium spectral lines in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ching, Sim Yit; Tariq, Usman; Haider, Zuhaib; Tufail, Kashif; Sabri, Salwanie; Imran, Muhammad; Ali, Jalil

2017-03-01

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a direct and versatile analytical technique that performs the elemental composition analysis based on optical emission produced by laser induced-plasma, with a little or no sample preparation. The performance of the LIBS technique relies on the choice of experimental conditions which must be thoroughly explored and optimized for each application. The main parameters affecting the LIBS performance are the laser energy, laser wavelength, pulse duration, gate delay, geometrical set-up of the focusing and collecting optics. In LIBS quantitative analysis, the gate delay and laser energy are very important parameters that have pronounced impact on the accuracy of the elemental composition information of the materials. The determination of calcium elements in the pelletized samples was investigated and served for the purpose of optimizing the gate delay and laser energy by studying and analyzing the results from emission intensities collected and signal to background ratio (S/B) for the specified wavelengths.

TELEPHONIC PRESENTATION: MERCURY MEASUREMENTS FOR SOLIDS MADE RAPIDLY, SIMPLY, AND INEXPENSIVELY

EPA Science Inventory

While traditional methods for determining mercury in solid samples involve the use of aggressive chemicals to dissolve the matrix and the use of other chemicals to properly reduce the mercury to the volatile elemental form, pyrolysis-based analyzers can be used by directly weighi...

SPECabq v. 2.0

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chambers, Robert S.; Neidigk, Matthew A.

Sandia SPECabq is FORTRAN code that defines the user supplied subroutines needed to perform nonlinear viscoelastic analyses in the ABAQUS commercial finite element code based on the Simplified Potential Energy Clock (SPEC) Model. The SPEC model was published in the open literature in 2009. It must be compiled and linked with the ABAQUS libraries under the user supplied subroutine option of the ABAQUS executable script. The subroutine is used to analyze the thermomechanical behavior of isotropic polymers predicting things like how a polymer may undergo stress or volume relaxation under different temperature and loading environments. This subroutine enables the ABAQUSmore » finite element code to be used for analyzing the thermo-mechanical behavior of samples and parts that are made from glassy polymers.« less

He, Ne and Ar systematics in single vesicles: Mantle isotopic ratios and origin of the air component in basaltic glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raquin, Aude; Moreira, Manuel Alexis; Guillon, Fabien

2008-09-01

An outstanding problem in understanding the origin of the gaseous phase, particularly the rare gas compositions in magmatic rocks, is the ubiquitous atmospheric component in bulk rock samples, and whether this atmospheric component is a late stage contamination of the sample, or a recycled component though sediments or altered oceanic crust. In the present study we address this problem by analyzing single vesicles from the "popping rock 2∏D43" sample from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge using a UV laser ablation system. We have determined both elemental and isotopic compositions of He, Ne and Ar in single vesicles as well as Kr and Xe abundances. All vesicles analyzed have an isotopic composition identical to the referred degassed mantle value estimated from this same sample, despite analyzing vesicles from a wide size distribution. The atmospheric component, which is always detected in bulk samples by crushing or heating, was not detected in the single vesicles. This implies that the recycling of atmospheric noble gases in the mantle cannot explain the air-like component of this sample. The addition of the atmospheric component must occur either during the eruption, or after sample recovery.

Assessment of Energetic Compounds, Semi-volatile Organic Compounds, and Trace Elements in Streambed Sediment and Stream Water from Streams Draining Munitions Firing Points and Impact Areas, Fort Riley, Kansas, 2007-08

USGS Publications Warehouse

Coiner, R.L.; Pope, L.M.; Mehl, H.E.

2010-01-01

An assessment of energetic compounds (explosive and propellant residues) and associated semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and trace elements in streambed sediment and stream water from streams draining munitions firing points and impact areas at Fort Riley, northeast Kansas, was performed during 2007-08 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Army. Streambed sediment from 16 sampling sites and stream-water samples from 5 sites were collected at or near Fort Riley and analyzed for as many as 17 energetic compounds, 65 SVOCs, and 27 trace elements. None of the energetic compounds or SVOCs were detected in streambed sediment collected from sites within the Fort Riley Military Reservation. This may indicate that these compounds either are not transported from dispersal areas or that analytical methods are not sensitive enough to detect the small concentrations that may be transported. Concentrations of munitions-associated trace elements did not exceed sediment-quality guidelines recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and are not indicative of contamination of streambed sediment at selected streambed sampling sites, at least in regards to movement from dispersal areas. Analytical results of stream-water samples provided little evidence of contamination by energetic compounds, SVOCs, or associated trace elements. Perchlorate was detected in 19 of 20 stream-water samples at concentrations ranging from an estimated 0.057 to an estimated 0.236 ug/L (micrograms per liter) with a median concentration of an estimated 0.114 ug/L, substantially less than the USEPA Interim Health Advisory criterion (15 ug/L), and is in the range of documented background concentrations. Because of these small concentrations and possible natural sources (precipitation and groundwater), it is likely that the occurrence of perchlorate in stream water is naturally occurring, although a definitive identification of the source of perchlorate in stream water at Fort Riley is difficult. The only SVOCs detected in stream-water samples were bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate but at concentrations substantially less than the most stringent aquatic-life criteria established by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. All trace element concentrations in stream-water samples were less than the most stringent aquatic-life criteria. The implication of these stream-water results is that contamination arising from firing-range activities, if it exists, is so small as to be nondetectable with current analytical methods or is not distinguishable from background concentrations for constituents that also are naturally occurring. Overall, the munitions-related constituents analyzed in streambed sediment and stream water, when detected, were at concentrations that were less than regulatory criteria

Total Diet Studies as a Tool for Ensuring Food Safety

PubMed Central

Lee, Joon-Goo; Kim, Sheen-Hee; Kim, Hae-Jung

2015-01-01

With the diversification and internationalization of the food industry and the increased focus on health from a majority of consumers, food safety policies are being implemented based on scientific evidence. Risk analysis represents the most useful scientific approach for making food safety decisions. Total diet study (TDS) is often used as a risk assessment tool to evaluate exposure to hazardous elements. Many countries perform TDSs to screen for chemicals in foods and analyze exposure trends to hazardous elements. TDSs differ from traditional food monitoring in two major aspects: chemicals are analyzed in food in the form in which it will be consumed and it is cost-effective in analyzing composite samples after processing multiple ingredients together. In Korea, TDSs have been conducted to estimate dietary intakes of heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, persistent organic pollutants, and processing contaminants. TDSs need to be carried out periodically to ensure food safety. PMID:26483881

Dual Source Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer and Sample Handling System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brinckerhoff, W.; Mahaffy, P.; Cornish, T.; Cheng, A.; Gorevan, S.; Niemann, H.; Harpold, D.; Rafeek, S.; Yucht, D.

We present details of an instrument under development for potential NASA missions to planets and small bodies. The instrument comprises a dual ionization source (laser and electron impact) time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) and a carousel sam- ple handling system for in situ analysis of solid materials acquired by, e.g., a coring drill. This DSTOF instrument could be deployed on a fixed lander or a rover, and has an open design that would accommodate measurements by additional instruments. The sample handling system (SHS) is based on a multi-well carousel, originally de- signed for Champollion/DS4. Solid samples, in the form of drill cores or as loose chips or fines, are inserted through an access port, sealed in vacuum, and transported around the carousel to a pyrolysis cell and/or directly to the TOF-MS inlet. Samples at the TOF-MS inlet are xy-addressable for laser or optical microprobe. Cups may be ejected from their holders for analyzing multiple samples or caching them for return. Samples are analyzed with laser desorption and evolved-gas/electron-impact sources. The dual ion source permits studies of elemental, isotopic, and molecular composition of unprepared samples with a single mass spectrometer. Pulsed laser desorption per- mits the measurement of abundance and isotope ratios of refractory elements, as well as the detection of high-mass organic molecules in solid samples. Evolved gas analysis permits similar measurements of the more volatile species in solids and aerosols. The TOF-MS is based on previous miniature prototypes at JHU/APL that feature high sensitivity and a wide mass range. The laser mode, in which the sample cup is directly below the TOF-MS inlet, permits both ablation and desorption measurements, to cover elemental and molecular species, respectively. In the evolved gas mode, sample cups are raised into a small pyrolysis cell and heated, producing a neutral gas that is elec- tron ionized and pulsed into the TOF-MS. (Any imaging and laser microprobe studies would necessarily precede the pyrolysis step to assure that the grain-scale composition is captured.)

Analysis of sustainable leadership for science learning management in the 21st Century under education THAILAND 4.0 framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jedaman, Pornchai; Buaraphan, Khajornsak; Pimdee, Paitoon; Yuenyong, Chokchai; Sukkamart, Aukkapong; Suksup, Charoen

2018-01-01

This article aims to study and analyze the 21st Century of sustainable leadership under the education THAILAND 4.0 Framework, and factor analysis of sustainable leadership for science learning. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches in collecting data including a questionnaire survey, a documentary review and a Participatory Action Learning (PAL). The sample were sampling purposively. There were 225 administrators of Primary and Secondary Education Area Offices throughout Thailand. Out of 225, 183 (83.33%) and 42 (16.67%) respondents were the administrators of Primary and Secondary Education Offices, respectively. The quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis including mean, standard deviation. Also, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to analyze the factors associated with sustainable leadership under the education THAILAND 4.0 Framework. The qualitative data was analyzed by using three main stages, i.e., data reduction, data organization, data interpretation to conclusion. The study revealed that sustainable leadership under the education THAILAND 4.0 Framework needs to focus on development, awareness of duty and responsibility, equality, moral and knowledge. All aspects should be integrated together in order to achieve the organizational goals, good governance culture and identity. Importantly, there were six "key" elements of sustainable leadership under the education THAILAND 4.0 framework: i) Professional Leadership Role, ii) Leadership Under Change, iii) Leadership Skills 4.0 in the 21st Century, iv) Development in the Pace With Change, v) Creativity and Creative Tension, and vi) Hold True Assessments. The CFA showed that the six key elements of sustainable leadership under the education THAILAND 4.0 framework by weight of each elements were significant at the .01 significance level.

Behavior of Rare Earth Element In Geothermal Systems; A New Exploration/Exploitation Tool

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Scott A. Wood

2002-01-28

The goal of this four-year project was to provide a database by which to judge the utility of the rare earth elements (REE) in the exploration for and exploitation of geothermal fields in the United States. Geothermal fluids from hot springs and wells have been sampled from a number of locations, including: (1) the North Island of New Zealand (1 set of samples); (2) the Cascades of Oregon; (3) the Harney, Alvord Desert and Owyhee geothermal areas of Oregon; (4) the Dixie Valley and Beowawe fields in Nevada; (5) Palinpion, the Philippines: (6) the Salton Sea and Heber geothermal fieldsmore » of southern California; and (7) the Dieng field in Central Java, Indonesia. We have analyzed the samples from all fields for REE except the last two.« less

SRXRF Study of Chemical Elements Content in the Atherosclerotic Plaque of Heart Vessels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuravskaya, E. Ya.; Savchenko, T. I.; Chankina, O. V.; Polonskaya, Ya. V.; Chernyavskii, A. M.; Ragino, Yu. I.; Shcherbakova, L. V.

The SRXRF method has made it possible, for the first time, to determine the multielement composition in the atherosclerotic substrates of heart vessels after surgical interventions. The main advantage of the method is the possibility to analyze small samples without their destruction. As the amount of material to test is insufficient, we have developed a special technique for sample preparation. The concentrations of K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr, Zr, and Pb were measured in stable and unstable plaques. In all the samples studied, Ca is dominating, particularly, in the unstable plaque. No reliable difference was established for other elements measured. A high degree of the association of Ca with Fe, Zn and Sr has been revealed in the atherosclerotic plaques. Measurements were performed using SR from the VEPP-3 storage ring.

Hummingbird Comet Nucleus Analysis Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kojiro, Daniel; Carle, Glenn C.; Lasher, Larry E.

2000-01-01

Hummingbird is a highly focused scientific mission, proposed to NASA s Discovery Program, designed to address the highest priority questions in cometary science-that of the chemical composition of the cometary nucleus. After rendezvous with the comet, Hummingbird would first methodically image and map the comet, then collect and analyze dust, ice and gases from the cometary atmosphere to enrich characterization of the comet and support landing site selection. Then, like its namesake, Hummingbird would carefully descend to a pre-selected surface site obtaining a high-resolution image, gather a surface material sample, acquire surface temperature and then immediately return to orbit for detailed chemical and elemental analyses followed by a high resolution post-sampling image of the site. Hummingbird s analytical laboratory contains instrumentation for a comprehensive molecular and elemental analysis of the cometary nucleus as well as an innovative surface sample acquisition device.

The 1 MV multi-element AMS system for biomedical applications at the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klein, Matthias; Vaes, W. H. J.; Fabriek, B.; Sandman, H.; Mous, D. J. W.; Gottdang, A.

2013-01-01

The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has installed a compact 1 MV multi-element AMS system manufactured by High Voltage Engineering Europa B.V., The Netherlands. TNO performs clinical research programs for pharmaceutical and innovative foods industry to obtain early pharmacokinetic data and to provide anti-osteoporotic efficacy data of new treatments. The AMS system will analyze carbon, iodine and calcium samples for this purpose. The first measurements on blank samples indicate background levels in the low 10-12 for calcium and iodine, making the system well suited for these biomedical applications. Carbon blanks have been measured at low 10-16. For unattended, around-the-clock analysis, the system features the 200 sample version of the SO110 hybrid ion source and user friendly control software.

Elemental Compositions of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Samples Collected by Stardust

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flynn, G. J.; Bleuet, P.; Borg, J.; Bradley, J.; Brenker, F.; Brennan, S.; Bridges, J.; Brownlee, D. E.; Bullock, E.; Clark, B. C.;

NASTRAN analysis for the Airmass Sunburst model 'C' Ultralight Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Verbestel, John; Smith, Howard W.

1993-01-01

The purpose of this project was to create a three dimensional NASTRAN model of the Airmass Sunburst Ultralight comparable to one made for finite element analysis. A two dimensional sample problem will be calculated by hand and by NASTRAN to make sure that NASTRAN finds similar results. A three dimensional model, similar to the one analyzed by the finite element program, will be run on NASTRAN. A comparison will be done between the NASTRAN results and the finite element program results. This study will deal mainly with the aerodynamic loads on the wing and surrounding support structure at an attack angle of 10 degrees.

Dietary reconstruction from trace element analysis and dental microwear in an Early Medieval population from Gán (Galanta district, Slovakia).

PubMed

Bodoriková, Silvia; Tibenská, Kristína Domonkosová; Katina, Stanislav; Uhrová, Petra; Dörnhöferová, Michaela; Takács, Michal; Urminský, Jozef

2013-01-01

The aim of the study was to determine the diet of an historical human population using the trace elements in dental tissues and dental buccal microwear. Although 38 individuals had been buried in the cemetery, preservation of the remains did not allow analysis of all of them. A total of 13 individuals were analysed, of which the samples for trace-element analysis consisted of 12 permanent premolars from 12 individuals. Buccal microwear was studied in a sample of nine teeth from nine individuals. Both trace-element and microwear analyses were performed on eight individuals. All analyzed teeth were intact, with fully developed roots, without dental calculus and macro-abrasion. Concentrations of Sr, Zn, and Ca, and their ratios, were used to determine the relative proportions of plant and animal protein in the diet. Samples were analyzed using optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. The values of the Sr and Zn concentrations indicate that a diet of the investigated population was of a mixed character with approximately the same proportion of plants and meat in their food. Buccal microwear was studied in molds ofbuccal surfaces and observed at 100x magnification with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Length and orientation of striations were determined with the SigmaScan Pro 5.0 image analysis program. The results obtained from microwear analysis correspond with those from trace-element analysis and showed that the population consumed a mixed diet. The density of the scratches indicates that the diet contained a considerable vegetable component. The high number of vertical scratches and their high average length suggest that individuals also consumed a large portion of meat. The results of both analyses showed that there were also individuals whose diet had probably been poor, i.e. richer in animal protein, which probably could be related to their health or social status in the population.

Field study on the accumulation of trace elements by vegetables produced in the vicinity of abandoned pyrite mines.

PubMed

Alvarenga, Paula; Simões, Isabel; Palma, Patrícia; Amaral, Olga; Matos, João Xavier

2014-02-01

To evaluate the accumulation of trace elements (TE) by vegetables produced in the vicinity of abandoned pyrite mines, eighteen different small farms were selected near three mines from the Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (São Domingos, Aljustrel and Lousal). Total and bioavailable As, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were analyzed in the soils, and the same TE were analyzed in three different vegetables, lettuce (Lactuca sativa), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), and cabbage (Brassica oleracea), collected at the same locations. The soils were contaminated with As, Cu, Pb, and Zn, since their total concentrations exceeded the considered soil quality guideline values for plant production in the majority of the sampling sites. The maximum total concentrations for those TE were extremely high in some of the sampling sites (e.g. 1,851 mg As kg(-1) in São Domingos, 1,126 mg Cu kg(-1) in Aljustrel, 4,946 mg Pb kg(-1) in São Domingos, and 1,224 mg Zn kg(-1) in Aljustrel). However, the soils were mainly circumneutral, a factor that contributes to their low bioavailable fractions. As a result, generally, the plants contained levels of these elements characteristic of uncontaminated plants, and accumulation factors for all elements <1, typical of excluder plants. Furthermore, the estimated daily intake (EDI) for Cu and Zn, through the consumption of these vegetables, falls below the recommended upper limit for daily intake of these elements. The sampling site that stood out from the others was located at São João de Negrilhos (Aljustrel), where bioavailable Zn levels were higher, a consequence of the slight acidity of the soil. Therefore, the Zn content in vegetables was also higher, characteristic of contaminated plants, emphasizing the risk of Zn entering the human food chain via the consumption of crops produced on those soils. © 2013.

Application of the Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence technique to trace elements determination in tobacco

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinez, T.; Lartigue, J.; Zarazua, G.; Avila-Perez, P.; Navarrete, M.; Tejeda, S.

2008-12-01

Many studies have identified an important number of toxic elements along with organic carcinogen molecules and radioactive isotopes in tobacco. In this work we have analyzed by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence 9 brands of cigarettes being manufactured and distributed in the Mexican market. Two National Institute of Standards and Technology standards and a blank were equally treated at the same time. Results show the presence of some toxic elements such as Pb and Ni. These results are compared with available data for some foreign brands, while their implications for health are discussed. It can be confirmed that the Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence method provides precise (reproducible) and accuracy (trueness) data for 15 elements concentration in tobacco samples.

Concentrations of Selected Elements in Liver Tissue of Grey Wolves (Canis lupus) from Serbia.

PubMed

Subotić, Srđan; Višnjić-Jeftić, Željka; Penezić, Aleksandra; Ćirović, Duško

2017-12-01

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is a large carnivore species and a top predator in the ecosystems that it inhabits. Considering its role in food webs, wolves may be exposed to high concentrations of potentially harmful elements. Therefore liver samples from 28 legally hunted wolves were analyzed for concentrations of 16 elements using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant difference between the genders only for Li, and there were no differences between individuals caught in different years. The majority of statistically significant correlations between element levels were positive, except for three cases. Compliance with several criteria for suitable bioindicator organisms imply that wolves may serve for monitoring environmental contamination.

Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003-2005

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gill, Amy C.; Robinson, John A.; Redmond, Jymalyn E.; Bradley, Michael W.

2008-01-01

The watershed of Fivemile Creek (FMC), a tributary to the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River, is located north of Birmingham, Alabama. Areas that have been previously coal-mined border the creek, and portions of the upper watershed have been and are currently (2007) being used for industrial and urban uses. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the City of Tarrant, the Freshwater Land Trust, and the Jefferson County Commission, conducted a water-quality assessment of 12 sites along FMC during 2003?2005. Water samples were analyzed for basic physical and chemical properties and concentrations of major ions, nutrients, fecal indicator bacteria, organic wastewater compounds, pesticides, trace elements, and semivolatile organic compounds. Streambed-sediment samples were analyzed for concentrations of trace elements and semivolatile organic compounds. Benthic invertebrate communities were evaluated for taxonomic composition and relation to water-quality conditions. Nutrient concentrations in the FMC watershed reflect the influences of natural and anthropogenic sources. Concentrations of total nitrogen in all samples and total Kjeldahl nitrogen in at least one sample each collected from FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC below Springdale Road, FMC at Lewisburg, FMC near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at Linn Crossing exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) ecoregion nutrient criteria. Total phosphorus concentrations in about 58 percent of all samples were above the ecoregion nutrient criteria. Concentrations of chlorophyll a, an indicator of algal biomass, in the FMC watershed were below the appropriate USEPA ecoregion criteria. Fecal indicator bacteria concentrations occasionally exceeded criteria established by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the USEPA to protect human health and aquatic life. Median fecal-coliform concentrations equaled or exceeded USEPA criteria at four of the six sites with multiple samples. Maximum Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations usually occurred during high-flow conditions and exceeded the single-sample criterion for infrequently-used whole-body contact (576 colonies per 100 milliliters) at all but one site. Median E. coli concentrations for two of the seven sites with multiple samples exceeded USEPA criteria. Twenty-nine samples were collected from sites along FMC and analyzed by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory for the presence of 57 organic wastewater compounds. Forty-six of the 57 organic wastewater compounds, representing all 11 general-use categories, were detected in samples from FMC. All detections of organic wastewater compounds were estimated below laboratory reporting limits except for several detections of the herbicide bromacil. Herbicides accounted for approximately 62 percent of the number of pesticide detections in the FMC study area. Two herbicides, atrazine and simazine, were detected most frequently, in 100 percent of the surface-water samples. Fipronil sulfide was the most commonly detected insecticide-derived compound, occurring in 52 percent of the surface-water samples. Concentrations of one insecticide, dieldrin, exceeded the USEPA?s health advisory level for drinking water in one sample at FMC at Hewitt Park and in one sample at FMC below Springdale Road. Concentrations of carbaryl in two samples and malathion in one sample exceeded aquatic-life criteria. Only a few trace element concentrations measured in FMC exceeded established standards or criteria. Some concentrations of aluminum and manganese were above secondary drinking-water standards. One cadmium concentration and three selenium concentrations measured at FMC at Lewisburg exceeded ADEM chronic aquatic-life criteria. Streambed-sediment samples were collected at seven sites along FMC, and analyzed for selected semivolatile organic compounds and trace elements. Forty-nine of 98 semivolatile organic compounds were detected in stre

Geochemical analysis of soils and sediments, Coeur d'Alene drainage basin, Idaho: sampling, analytical methods, and results

USGS Publications Warehouse

Box, Stephen E.; Bookstrom, Arthur A.; Ikramuddin, Mohammed; Lindsay, James

2001-01-01

(Fe), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd). In general inter-laboratory correlations are better for samples within the compositional range of the Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Analyses by EWU are the most accurate relative to the NIST standards (mean recoveries within 1% for Pb, Fe, Mn, and As, 3% for Zn and 5% for Cd) and are the most precise (within 7% of the mean at the 95% confidence interval). USGS-EDXRF is similarly accurate for Pb and Zn. XRAL and ACZ are relatively accurate for Pb (within 5-8% of certified NIST values), but were considerably less accurate for the other 5 elements of concern (10-25% of NIST values). However, analyses of sample splits by more than one laboratory reveal that, for some elements, XRAL (Pb, Mn, Cd) and ACZ (Pb, Mn, Zn, Fe) analyses were comparable to EWU analyses of the same samples (when values are within the range of NIST SRMs). These results suggest that, for some elements, XRAL and ACZ dissolutions are more effective on the matrix of the CdA samples than on the matrix of the NIST samples (obtained from soils around Butte, Montana). Splits of CdA samples analyzed by CHEMEX were the least accurate, yielding values 10-25% less than those of EWU.

Qualitative and quantitative spectro-chemical analysis of dates using UV-pulsed laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Mehder, A O; Habibullah, Y B; Gondal, M A; Baig, Umair

2016-08-01

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is demonstrated for the spectral analysis of nutritional and toxic elements present in several varieties of date fruit samples available in the Saudi Arabia market. The method analyzes the optical emission of a test sample when subjected to pulsed laser ablation. In this demonstration, our primary focus is on calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), as nutritional elements, and on chromium (Cr), as a toxic element. The local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) condition was confirmed prior to the elemental characterization of date samples to ensure accuracy of the LIBS analysis. This was achieved by measuring parameters associated with the plasma, such as the electron temperature and the electron number density. These plasma parameters aid interpretation of processes such as ionization, dissociation, and excitation occurring in the plasma plume formed by ablating the date palm sample. The minimum detection limit was established from calibration curves that involved plotting the LIBS signal intensity as a function of standard date samples with known concentrations. The concentration of Ca and Mg detected in different varieties of date samples was between 187 and 515 and 35-196mgL(-1) respectively, while Cr concentration measured between 1.72 and 7.76mgL(-1). In order to optimize our LIBS system, we have studied how the LIBS signal intensity depends on the incident laser energy and the delay time. In order to validate our LIBS analysis results, standard techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were also applied on an identical (duplicate) date samples as those used for the LIBS analysis. The LIBS results exhibit remarkable agreement with those obtained from the ICP-MS analysis. In addition, the finger print wavelengths of other elements present in date samples were also identified and are reported here, which has not been previously reported, to the best of our knowledge. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mineralogical maps showing distribution of selected ore-related minerals in the nonmagnetic, heavy-mineral-concentrate fraction of stream sediment from the Mount Hayes 1 degree by 3 degrees Quadrangle, eastern Alaska Range, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tripp, Richard B.; Curtin, Gary C.; Nokleberg, Warren J.; Huston, David L.; Hampton, James R.

1993-01-01

Exploratory geochemical sampling was done in 1979, 1980, and 1981. The collection of composite samples of stream sediment or glacial debris was emphasized the first 2 years; the last year was spent collecting mineralized stream pebbles, float, and outcrop samples. The stream-sediment and heavy- mineral-concentrate samples were collected at 795 sites on tributary streams having drainage basins ranging from 1 to 5 mi 2 in area. The glacial debris samples were collected at 116 sites on tributary glaciers also having drainage basins ranging from 1 to 5 mi2 in area. All of these samples were analyzed for 31 elements by six-step semiquantitative emission spectrography (Grimes and Marranzino, 1968). In addition, all samples were analyzed for zinc by an atomic absorption method (Ward and others, 1969). The spectrographic and chemical results are available in O'Leary and others (1982).

Yoruba world view and the nature of psychotic illness.

PubMed

Olugbile, O; Zachariah, M P; Kuyinu, A; Coker, A; Ojo, O; Isichei, B

2009-05-01

The Yoruba are an ethnic group in southern Nigeria. It is said that their world view centers around a continuous battle between forces of good and evil. Adverse events such as illness are due to the malevolence of enemies, using metaphysical means. Remedy often involves corrective metaphysical intervention, either exclusively or in addition to other methods, such as 'western Medicine'. This 'rule' is said to fit mental illness more than any other type of illness, although there is a lack of empirical data on the subject. This study is aimed at identifying elements of a Yoruba world view, and factors relevant to the perception and treatment of psychotic illness. 500 Yorubas in Lagos were randomly sampled (with a questionnaire), and 100 'home video' films were analyzed. Data were analyzed for: elements of world view; elements that pertain to illness in general; elements that pertain to psychotic illness; how such illness is to be treated. The world view has a significant influence on perception of psychotic illness. It is necessary to understand a people's world view in order to understand (and influence) attitudes towards psychotic illness in themselves and other people.

Dynamics of trace elements in shallow groundwater of an agricultural land in the northeast of Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mora, Abrahan; Mahlknecht, Jürgen; Hernández-Antonio, Arturo

2017-04-01

The citrus zone located in northeastern Mexico covers an area of 8000 km2 and produces 10% of the Mexican citrus production. The aquifer system of this zone constitutes the major source of water for drinking and irrigation purposes for local population and provides base flows to surface water supplied to the city of Monterrey ( 4.5 million inhabitants). Although the study area is near the recharge zones, several works have reported nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater of this agricultural area, mainly due to animal manure and human waste produced by infiltration of urban sewers and septic tanks. Thus, the goals of this work were to assess the dynamics of selected trace elements in this aquifer system and determine if the trace element content in groundwater poses a threat to the population living in the area. Thirty-nine shallow water wells were sampled in 2010. These water samples were filtered through 0,45 µm pore size membranes and preserved with nitric acid for storage. The concentrations of Cd, Cs, Cu, Mo, Pb, Rb, Si, Ti, U, Y, and Zn were measured by ICP-MS. Also, sulfate concentrations were measured by ion chromatography in unacidified samples. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) performed in the data set show five principal components (PC). PC1 includes elements derived from silicate weathering, such as Si and Ti. The relationship found between Mo and U with sulfates in PC2 indicates that both elements show a high mobility in groundwater. Indeed, the concentrations of sulfate, Mo and U are increased as groundwater moves eastward. PC3 includes the alkali trace elements (Rb and Cs), indicating that both elements could be derived from the same source of origin. PC4 represents the heavy trace elements (Cd and Pb) whereas PC5 includes divalent trace elements such as Zn and Cu. None of the water samples showed trace element concentrations higher than the guideline values for drinking water proposed by the World Health Organization, which indicates that the analyzed trace elements in groundwater do not pose any significant threat to the population living in this area.

Evaluation of neutron flux parameters in irradiation sites of research reactor using the Westcott-formalism for the k0 neutron activation analysis method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasban, H.; Hamid, Ashraf

2015-12-01

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis using k0 (k0-INAA) method has been used to determine a number of elements in sediment samples collected from El-Manzala Lake in Egypt. k0-INAA according to Westcott's formalism has been implemented using the complete irradiation kit of the fast pneumatic rabbit and some selected manually loaded irradiation sites for short and long irradiation at Egypt Second Research Reactor (ETRR-2). Zr-Au and Co sets as neutron flux monitors are used to determine the neutron flux parameters (f and α) in each irradiation sites. Two reference materials IAEA Soil-7 samples have been inserted and implemented for data validation and an internal monostandard multi monitor used (k0 based IM-NAA). It was given a good agreement between the experimental analyzed values and that obtained of the certified values. The major and trace elements in the sediment samples have been evaluated with the use of Co as an internal and Au as an external monostandard comparators. The concentrations of the elements (Cr, Mn and Zn) in the sediment samples of the present work are discussed regarding to those obtained from other sites.

Use of geostatistics for assessing the concentration of heavy metals in a stretch of the River Apodi-Mossoro (Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bezerra, J. M.; Siqueira, G. M.; Montenegro, A. A. A.; Silva, P. C. M.; Batista, R. O.

2012-04-01

The objective of this study was to assess the environmental changes with respect to the concentration of heavy metals in the sediment contained a stretch of the River Apodi-Mossoró (Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil), considering changes in land use and soil. The sediment samples were collected at 30 points in the bed Apodi- Mossoró River in a section with features urban-rural town of Mossoró. The concentration of heavy metals in the sediment was determined using composite samples of surface sediments from the bottom with a depth of 20 cm, according to the methodology of APHAAWWA-WPCF (1998), where he subsequently held to determine the presence and quantity of metal concentration total by the technique of atomic absorption spectrometry, and analyzed the following heavy metals: aluminum(Al), cádmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Data were analyzed using statistical and geostatistical. The geostatistical analysiswas performed by the construction of experimental semivariogramas self-assessment and adjustment by using the technique of Jack-kinifing. The elemento Cd was absent in the samples, which reduces the possibility of environmental contamination events. The average concentrations of the elements under study are within the limits proposed by the environmental legislation (National Environmental Council). However, for the elements Fe, Al and Mn no threshold values, because these are associated with the rocky material of geochemical origin. The elemento Fe had the highest range of values than the other, and all elements except for Zn and Cd showed the presence of outliers, suggesting the possibility that these points are listed as points liable to contribution by human activities. It was verified the presence of human influence, because the elements undergo an increase of concentration values from the point 11, which is located downstream of the urban bus consolidated. The experimental semivariogramas of elements Cu and Zn adjusted to the spherical model, while the elemen Fe was adjusted to the exponential model. The concentration of Mn is set to the Gaussian model, while the other elements (Al, Cr, Ni and Pb) showed pure nugget effect. The spatial variability of heavy metals analyzed in the study area has high spatial discontinuity, being influenced by the presence of human action, leading to the existence of trend in the semivariogram of the data of Al, Ni, Pb and Cr. Being derived values range from 350 m for Cu and Mn, Fe and 400 m to 425 m for Zn. It is recommended that future studies adopt a sampling grid with spacing less than 350 mand is expected to get a better response to the behavior of the spatial variability of the elements.

Element Distribution in Silicon Refining: Thermodynamic Model and Industrial Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Næss, Mari K.; Kero, Ida; Tranell, Gabriella; Tang, Kai; Tveit, Halvard

2014-11-01

To establish an overview of impurity elemental distribution among silicon, slag, and gas/fume in the refining process of metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si), an industrial measurement campaign was performed at the Elkem Salten MG-Si plant in Norway. Samples of in- and outgoing mass streams, i.e., tapped Si, flux and cooling materials, refined Si, slag, and fume, were analyzed by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS), with respect to 62 elements. The elemental distributions were calculated and the experimental data compared with equilibrium estimations based on commercial and proprietary, published databases and carried out using the ChemSheet software. The results are discussed in terms of boiling temperatures, vapor pressures, redox potentials, and activities of the elements. These model calculations indicate a need for expanded databases with more and reliable thermodynamic data for trace elements in general and fume constituents in particular.

TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSES OF URANIUM MATERIALS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beals, D; Charles Shick, C

The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) has developed an analytical method to measure many trace elements in a variety of uranium materials at the high part-per-billion (ppb) to low part-per-million (ppm) levels using matrix removal and analysis by quadrapole ICP-MS. Over 35 elements were measured in uranium oxides, acetate, ore and metal. Replicate analyses of samples did provide precise results however none of the materials was certified for trace element content thus no measure of the accuracy could be made. The DOE New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL) does provide a Certified Reference Material (CRM) that has provisional values for a seriesmore » of trace elements. The NBL CRM were purchased and analyzed to determine the accuracy of the method for the analysis of trace elements in uranium oxide. These results are presented and discussed in the following paper.« less

PLUTONIUM UPTAKE AND BEHAVIOR IN PLANTS OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Caldwell, E.; Duff, M.; Ferguson, C.

2011-03-01

Eight species of desert vegetation and associated soils were collected from the Nevada National Security Site (N2S2) and analyzed for 238Pu and 239+240Pu concentrations. Amongst the plant species sampled were: atmospheric elemental accumulators (moss and lichen), the very slow growing, long-lived creosote bush and the rapidly growing, short-lived cheatgrass brome. The diversity of growth strategies provided insight into the geochemical behavior and bio-availability of Pu at the N2S2. The highest concentrations of Pu were measured in the onion moss (24.27 Bq kg-1 238Pu and 52.78 Bq kg-1 239+240Pu) followed by the rimmed navel lichen (8.18 Bq kg-1 and 18.4 Bqmore » kg-1 respectively), pointing to the importance of eolian transport of Pu. Brome and desert globemallow accumulated between 3 and 9 times higher concentrations of Pu than creosote and sage brush species. These results support the importance of species specific elemental accumulation strategies rather than exposure duration as the dominant variable influencing Pu concentrations in these plants. Total vegetation elemental concentrations of Ce, Fe, Al, Sm and others were also analyzed. Strong correlations were observed between Fe and Pu. This supports the conclusion that Pu was accumulated as a consequence of the active accumulation of Fe and other plant required nutrients. Cerium and Pu are considered to be chemical analogs. Strong correlations observed in plants support the conclusion that these elements displayed similar geochemical behavior in the environment as it related to the biochemical uptake process of vegetation. Soils were also sampled in association with vegetation samples. This allowed for the calculation of a concentration ratio (CR). The CR values for Pu in plants were highly influenced by the heterogeneity of Pu distribution among sites. Results from the naturally occurring elements of concern were more evenly distributed between sample sites. This allowed for the development of a pattern of plant species that accumulated Ce, Sm, Fe and Al. The highest accumulators of these elements were onion moss, lichen flowed by brome. The lowest accumulators were creosote bush and fourwing saltbush. This ranked order corresponds to plant accumulations of Pu.« less

Marine Biogeochemistry of Particulate Trace Elements in the Exclusive Economic Zone (eez) of the State of Qatar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yigiterhan, O.; Al-Ansari, I. S.; Abdel-Moati, M.; Murray, J. W.; Al-Ansi, M.

2016-02-01

We focus on the trace element geochemistry of particulate matter in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Qatar. A main goal of this research was to analyze a complete suite of trace elements on particulate matter samples from the water column from different oceanographic biogeochemical zones of the EEZ around Qatar. The sample set also includes plankton samples which are the main source of biogenic particles, dust samples which are a source of abiological particles to surface seawater and surface sediments which can be a source of resuspended particles and a sink for settling particles. The 15 metals and 2 non-metals analyzed in this study will be Al, Ti, V, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mo, Ag, Ba, U and P, N. Many factors control the composition of trace elements in marine particles. Most of these are important in the EEZ of Qatar, including:1. Natural sources: These are rivers, atmospheric dust, sediment resuspension and leaks from oil beds. However, due to very limited rainfall rivers play no major role in Qatar but resuspension of shallow carbonate rich sediments and input of atmospheric dust are important due to strong currents and surrounding deserts.2. Adsorption/desorption: These chemical processes occur everywhere in the ocean and transfer metals between particles and the solution phase.3. Biological uptake: This process is likewise a universal ocean process and results in transport of metals from the solution phase to biological particles.4. Redox conditions: These are important chemical reactions in the oxic, suboxic and anoxic zones. This can be the dominant controlling mechanism in the northeastern hypoxic deeper waters of the Qatar EEZ.5. Anthropogenic sources: The eastern part of the Qatar contains numerous industrial sites, petroleum/gas platforms and refineries. There are numerous industrial sources but the main hot spots are the port of Doha and the industrial cities of Mesaieed, Khor Al-Odaid, and Ras Laffan. We aimed to determine the influence of the different current systems, water masses, and terrestrial inputs on the distribution, fractionation, and fate of trace metal contaminants and elemental pollutants. We have also observed the level of anthropogenic enrichments for some of the elements which have not been previously documented. This research should be viewed as the first stage of a complete study.

Contamination of environment in the road surroudings - impact of road salting on Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hegrová, Jitka; Steiner, Oliver; Goessler, Walter; Tanda, Stefan; Anděl, Petr

2017-09-01

A comprehensive overview of the influence of transport on the environment is presented in this study. The complex analysis of soil and needle samples provides an extensive set of data, which presents elemental contamination of the environment near roads. Traffic pollution (including winter road treatment) has a significant negative influence on our environment. Besides sodium and chlorine from winter maintenance many other elements are emitted into the environment. Three possible sources of contamination are assumed for environmental contamination evaluation: car emission, winter maintenance and abrasion from breaks and clutches. The chemical analysis focused on the description of samples from inorganic point of view. The influence of the contamination potential on the sodium and chlorine content in the samples of 1st year-old and 2nd year-old needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is discussed. Additional soil samples were taken from each sampling site and analyzed to get insight in the sodium and chlorine distribution. Statistical evaluation was used for interpretation of complex interaction patterns between element concentrations in different aged needles based on localities character including distance from the road and element concentration in soils. This species of needles were chosen because of its heightened sensitivity towards salinization. The study was conducted in different parts of the Czech Republic. The resulting database is a source of valuable information about the influence of transport on the environment.

PRESENTED 04/05/2006: MERCURY MEASUREMENTS FOR SOLIDS MADE RAPIDLY, SIMPLY, AND INEXPENSIVELY

EPA Science Inventory

While traditional methods for determining mercury in solid samples involve the use of aggressive chemicals to dissolve the matrix and the use of other chemicals to properly reduce the mercury to the volatile elemental form, pyrolysis-based analyzers can be used by directly weighi...

PRESENTED MAY 10, 2005, MERCURY MEASUREMENTS FOR SOLIDS MADE RAPIDLY, SIMPLY, AND INEXPENSIVELY

EPA Science Inventory

While traditional methods for determining mercury in solid samples involve the use of aggressive chemicals to dissolve the matrix and the use of other chemicals to properly reduce the mercury to the volatile elemental form, pyrolysis-based analyzers can be used by directly weighi...

Fiscal Capacity and Educational Finance: Some Further Variations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dziuban, Charles; And Others

The school district fiscal capacity data (1962 and 1967) of the National Finance Project were analyzed for psychometric adequacy and robustness of component composition. The procedures involved: (1) the computation of the Kaiser, Meyer, Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy, (2) inspection of the off-diagonal elements of the antiimage covariance…

Characterization of the Particulate Emissions from the BP Deepwell Horizon Spill Surface Oil Burns

EPA Science Inventory

A particle sample gathered from the plume of the purposely-burned surface oil during the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico was analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic acids, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), metals, and chloro-org...

The Moss Techniques for Air Pollution Study in Bulgaria

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marinova, S.; Marinov, A.; Frontasyeva, M.

2010-01-21

The paper presents new results on atmospheric deposition of 41 elements in four areas of Bulgaria during the European moss survey in 2005. The results have been obtained by the moss biomonitoring technique. Ninety seven moss samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (ENAA) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

Measurement of Irradiated Pyroprocessing Samples via Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Phongikaroon, Supathorn

The primary objective of this research is to develop an applied technology and provide an assessment to remotely measure and analyze the real time or near real time concentrations of used nuclear fuel (UNF) dissolute in electrorefiners. Here, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), in UNF pyroprocessing facilities will be investigated. LIBS is an elemental analysis method, which is based on the emission from plasma generated by focusing a laser beam into the medium. This technology has been reported to be applicable in the media of solids, liquids (includes molten metals), and gases for detecting elements of special nuclear materials. The advantagesmore » of applying the technology for pyroprocessing facilities are: (i) Rapid real-time elemental analysis|one measurement/laser pulse, or average spectra from multiple laser pulses for greater accuracy in < 2 minutes; (ii) Direct detection of elements and impurities in the system with low detection limits|element specific, ranging from 2-1000 ppm for most elements; and (iii) Near non-destructive elemental analysis method (about 1 g material). One important challenge to overcome is achieving high-resolution spectral analysis to quantitatively analyze all important fission products and actinides. Another important challenge is related to accessibility of molten salt, which is heated in a heavily insulated, remotely operated furnace in a high radiation environment with an argon atmosphere.« less

Analysis of on-line clinical laboratory manuals and practical recommendations.

PubMed

Beckwith, Bruce; Schwartz, Robert; Pantanowitz, Liron

2004-04-01

On-line clinical laboratory manuals are a valuable resource for medical professionals. To our knowledge, no recommendations currently exist for their content or design. To analyze publicly accessible on-line clinical laboratory manuals and to propose guidelines for their content. We conducted an Internet search for clinical laboratory manuals written in English with individual test listings. Four individual test listings in each manual were evaluated for 16 data elements, including sample requirements, test methodology, units of measure, reference range, and critical values. Web sites were also evaluated for supplementary information and search functions. We identified 48 on-line laboratory manuals, including 24 academic or community hospital laboratories and 24 commercial or reference laboratories. All manuals had search engines and/or test indices. No single manual contained all 16 data elements evaluated. An average of 8.9 (56%) elements were present (range, 4-14). Basic sample requirements (specimen and volume needed) were the elements most commonly present (98% of manuals). The frequency of the remaining data elements varied from 10% to 90%. On-line clinical laboratory manuals originate from both hospital and commercial laboratories. While most manuals were user-friendly and contained adequate specimen-collection information, other important elements, such as reference ranges, were frequently absent. To ensure that clinical laboratory manuals are of maximal utility, we propose the following 13 data elements be included in individual test listings: test name, synonyms, test description, test methodology, sample requirements, volume requirements, collection guidelines, transport guidelines, units of measure, reference range, critical values, test availability, and date of latest revision.

Trace elements and organic compounds in bed sediment from selected streams in southern Louisiana, 1998

USGS Publications Warehouse

Skrobialowski, Stanley C.

2002-01-01

Bed-sediment samples from 21 selected streams in southern Louisiana were collected and analyzed for the presence of trace elements and organic compounds during 1998 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program. Concentrations of selected trace elements and organic compounds were compared on the basis of sediment-quality criteria, land use, and grain size; concentrations of selected trace elements also were compared with concentrations from previous studies. Concentrations of seven selected trace elements and 21 organic compounds were evaluated with sediment-quality criteria established by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Concentrations of selected trace elements and organic compounds were highest at sites draining urban and agricultural areas and may result from cumulative effects of relatively high percentages of fine-grained material, iron, and organic material. Concentrations exceeding sediment-quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life occurred most frequently at Bayou Grosse Tete at Rosedale and Bayou Lafourche below weir at Thibodaux. Exceedance of Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines occurred most frequently for arsenic and chromium. Trace-element concentrations in fine-grained samples were compared with concentrations in bulk samples and were determined to be significantly different, and concentrations were generally higher in finegrained sediment. Shapiro-Wilk, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon rank sum statistical procedures, with an alpha of 0.05, were used to compare concentrations of 21 trace elements, total organic carbon, and total carbon in finegrained and bulk sediment samples for 19 sites. Significant differences were determined between fine-grained and bulk sediment samples for aluminum, barium, beryllium, chromium, copper, iron, lithium, nickel, phosphorus, selenium, titanium, and zinc concentrations. Of 133 paired concentrations, 69 percent were greater in fine-grained samples, and 23 percent were greater in bulk samples. Comparisons with data from previous studies indicate increases by more than 20 percent in concentrations of antimony at Bayou Lafourche below weir at Thibodaux, arsenic and chromium at Tickfaw River at Liverpool, lead at Bayou Lafourche below weir at Thibodaux, and zinc at Bayou Lafourche below weir at Thibodaux and Vermilion River at Perry. Historic comparisons also indicate decreases by more than 20 percent in concentrations of chromium at Bayou des Cannes near Eunice and mercury at Mermentau River at Mermentau.

Multi-element screening by ICP-MS of two specimens of Napoleon's hair.

PubMed

Kintz, Pascal; Ginet, Morgane; Cirimele, Vincent

2006-10-01

Since 1960, it has been demonstrated by various analytical procedures that high concentrations of arsenic were present in Napoleon's hair. Various authors, indicating that the detected arsenic levels are a consequence of external contamination, have challenged the results of these examinations. In order to shed more light on this historical controversy, we have tested two samples of Napoleon's hair by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The samples of hair were decontaminated with acetone and were cut into small segments. For multi-element screening, hair samples were mineralized in concentrated nitric acid for 1 h at 70 degrees C, diluted 1:40 in specific solution with rhodium as an internal standard, and finally analyzed by ICP-MS on a Thermo Electron ICP/MS X7. Multi-element analysis of Napoleon's hair samples revealed massive amounts of arsenic (42.1 and 37.4 ng/mg), antimony (2.1 and 1.8 ng/mg) and elevated levels of mercury (3.3 and 4.7 ng/mg) and lead (229 and 112 ng/mg). In the case of arsenic, these concentrations, 40 times higher than the normal values, confirm the hypothesis of a significant exposure to arsenic. The concentrations of the other elements, in particular antimony and mercury, are in agreement with the data already known about the therapeutic treatments given to Napoleon, which were based on calomel (salt of mercury) and tartar emetic (antimony).

Improved results of LINE-1 methylation analysis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues with the application of a heating step during the DNA extraction process.

PubMed

Wen, Xianyu; Jeong, Seorin; Kim, Younghoon; Bae, Jeong Mo; Cho, Nam Yun; Kim, Jung Ho; Kang, Gyeong Hoon

2017-01-01

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are important resources for profiling DNA methylation changes and for studying a variety of diseases. However, formalin fixation introduces inter-strand crosslinking, which might cause incomplete bisulfite conversion of unmethylated cytosines, which might lead to falsely elevated measurements of methylation levels in pyrosequencing assays. Long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) is a major constituent of repetitive transposable DNA elements, and its methylation is referred to correlates with global DNA methylation. To identify whether formalin fixation might impact the measured values of methylation in LINE-1 repetitive elements and whether prolonged heat-induced denaturation of DNA might reduce the artificial increases in measured values caused by formalin fixation, we analyzed paired fresh-frozen (FF) and FFPE xenograft tissue samples for their methylation levels in LINE-1 using a pyrosequencing assay. To further confirm the effect of a heating step in the measurement of LINE-1 or single gene methylation levels, we analyzed FFPE tissue samples of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer for their methylation status in LINE-1 and eight single genes, respectively. Formalin fixation led to an increase in the measured values of LINE-1 methylation regardless of the duration of fixation. Prolonged heating of the DNA at 95 °C for 30 min before bisulfite conversion was found (1) to decrease the discrepancy in the measured values between the paired FF and FFPE tissue samples, (2) to decrease the standard deviation of the measured value of LINE-1 methylation levels in FFPE tissue samples of gastric cancer, and (3) to improve the performance in the measurement of single gene methylation levels in FFPE tissue samples of colorectal cancer. Formalin fixation leads to artificial increases in the measured values of LINE-1 methylation, and the application of prolonged heating of DNA samples decreases the discrepancy in the measured values of LINE-1 methylation between paired FF and FFPE tissue samples. The application of prolonged heating of DNA samples improves bisulfite conversion-based measurement of LINE-1 or single gene methylation levels in FFPE tissue samples.

[Contents of macromineral and trace elements in spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) from France, Chad, Togo, Niger, Mali, Burkina-Faso and Central African Republic].

PubMed

Vicat, Jean-Paul; Doumnang Mbaigane, Jean-Claude; Bellion, Yves

2014-01-01

Data on mineral elements in spirulinas being limited, we analyzed macrominerals and trace elements of samples from France and Africa. Spirulinas cultivated in France have a composition in macromineral elements similar to those of the literature. The entire contents of trace elements are low. Unlike marine cyanobacteria, they do not concentrate rare-earth elements. Spirulina harvested in Chad has high levels in macrominerals and trace elements, due to traditional drying and harvesting methods. Rare-earth element levels are attributed to this pollution and not to their concentration in spirulinas, because rare-earth element normalized profiles of spirulina are strictly parallel to those of ouadis mud and very different from those of ouadis water. Despite the sometimes high content of total As, normal water consumption in Chad presents no health problems. Spirulinas grown in Togo, Niger, Mali, Burkina-Faso and Central African Republic have chemical compositions similar to those of Chad spirulinas, but with a lower content of macromineral and trace elements, reflecting a lower mineral pollution. Rare-earth element normalized patterns dismiss an aeolian pollution and the pollution is rather of pedological origin. They show no toxicity problem except spirulinas from Burkina-Faso, whose Pb content is too high. The variability of composition of spirulinas can be largely attributed to the mineral pollution of the samples. Significant levels of rare-earth elements sometimes found in the literature reflect this pollution. Copyright © 2013 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy of salts in natural sea ice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Obbard, Rachel W.; Lieb-Lappen, Ross M.; Nordick, Katherine V.

We describe the use of synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to examine the microstructural location of specific elements, primarily salts, in sea ice. This work was part of an investigation of the location of bromine in the sea ice-snowpack-blowing snow system, where it plays a part in the heterogeneous chemistry that contributes to tropospheric ozone depletion episodes. We analyzed samples at beamline 13-ID-E of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Using an 18 keV incident energy beam, we produced elemental maps of salts for sea ice samples from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The distribution of salts in sea icemore » depends on ice type. In our columnar ice samples, Br was located in parallel lines spaced roughly 0.5 mm apart, corresponding to the spacing of lamellae in the skeletal region during initial ice growth. The maps revealed concentrations of Br in linear features in samples from all but the topmost and bottommost depths. For those samples, the maps revealed rounded features. Calibration of the Br elemental maps showed bulk concentrations to be 5–10 g/m 3, with concentrations ten times larger in the linear features. Through comparison with horizontal thin sections, we could verify that these linear features were brine sheets or layers.« less

Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy of salts in natural sea ice

DOE PAGES

Obbard, Rachel W.; Lieb-Lappen, Ross M.; Nordick, Katherine V.; ...

2016-10-23

We describe the use of synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to examine the microstructural location of specific elements, primarily salts, in sea ice. This work was part of an investigation of the location of bromine in the sea ice-snowpack-blowing snow system, where it plays a part in the heterogeneous chemistry that contributes to tropospheric ozone depletion episodes. We analyzed samples at beamline 13-ID-E of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Using an 18 keV incident energy beam, we produced elemental maps of salts for sea ice samples from the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The distribution of salts in sea icemore » depends on ice type. In our columnar ice samples, Br was located in parallel lines spaced roughly 0.5 mm apart, corresponding to the spacing of lamellae in the skeletal region during initial ice growth. The maps revealed concentrations of Br in linear features in samples from all but the topmost and bottommost depths. For those samples, the maps revealed rounded features. Calibration of the Br elemental maps showed bulk concentrations to be 5–10 g/m 3, with concentrations ten times larger in the linear features. Through comparison with horizontal thin sections, we could verify that these linear features were brine sheets or layers.« less

Elemental and Molecular Segregation in Oil Paintings due to Lead Soap Degradation.

PubMed

Chen-Wiegart, Yu-Chen Karen; Catalano, Jaclyn; Williams, Garth J; Murphy, Anna; Yao, Yao; Zumbulyadis, Nicholas; Centeno, Silvia A; Dybowski, Cecil; Thieme, Juergen

2017-09-14

The formation of Pb, Zn, and Cu carboxylates (soaps) has caused visible deterioration in hundreds of oil paintings dating from the 15th century to the present. Through transport phenomena not yet understood, free fatty acids in the oil binding medium migrate through the paint and react with pigments containing heavy metals to form soaps. To investigate the complex correlation among the elemental segregation, types of chemical compounds formed, and possible mechanisms of the reactions, a paint sample cross-section from a 15th century oil painting was examined by synchrotron X-ray techniques. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy, quantified with elemental correlation density distribution, showed Pb and Sn segregation in the soap-affected areas. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) around the Pb-L3 absorption edge showed that Pb pigments and Pb soaps can be distinguished while micro-XANES gave further information on the chemical heterogeneity in the paint film. The advantages and limitations of these synchrotron-based techniques are discussed and compared to those of methods routinely used to analyze paint samples. The results presented set the stage for improving the information extracted from samples removed from works of art and for correlating observations in model paint samples to those in the naturally aged samples, to shed light onto the mechanism of soap formation.

Test of tree core sampling for screening of toxic elements in soils from a Norwegian site.

PubMed

Algreen, Mette; Rein, Arno; Legind, Charlotte N; Amundsen, Carl Einar; Karlson, Ulrich Gosewinkel; Trapp, Stefan

2012-04-01

Tree core samples have been used to delineate organic subsurface plumes. In 2009 and 2010, samples were taken at trees growing on a former dump site in Norway and analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Concentrations in wood were in averages (dw) 30 mg/kg for Zn, 2 mg/kg for Cu, and < 1 mg/kg for Cd, Cr, As and Ni. The concentrations in wood samples from the polluted test site were compared to those derived from a reference site. For all except one case, mean concentrations from the test site were higher than those from the reference site, but the difference was small and not always significant. Differences between tree species were usually higher than differences between reference and test site. Furthermore, all these elements occur naturally, and Cu, Ni, and Zn are essential minerals. Thus, all trees will have a natural background of these elements, and the occurrence alone does not indicate soil pollution. For the interpretation of the results, a comparison to wood samples from an unpolluted reference site with same species and similar soil conditions is required. This makes the tree core screening method less reliable for heavy metals than, e.g., for chlorinated solvents.

Chemical quality of water and bottom sediment, Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Lahontan Valley, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thodal, Carl E.

2017-12-28

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collected data on water and bottom-sediment chemistry to be used to evaluate a new water rights acquisition program designed to enhance wetland habitat in Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge and in Lahontan Valley, Churchill County, Nevada. The area supports habitat critical to the feeding and resting of migratory birds travelling the Pacific Flyway. Information about how water rights acquisitions may affect the quality of water delivered to the wetlands is needed by stakeholders and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge managers in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach to wetlands management. A network of six sites on waterways that deliver the majority of water to Refuge wetlands was established to monitor the quality of streamflow and bottom sediment. Each site was visited every 4 to 6 weeks and selected water-quality field parameters were measured when flowing water was present. Water samples were collected at varying frequencies and analyzed for major ions, silica, and organic carbon, and for selected species of nitrogen and phosphorus, trace elements, pharmaceuticals, and other trace organic compounds. Bottom-sediment samples were collected for analysis of selected trace elements.Dissolved-solids concentrations exceeded the recommended criterion for protection of aquatic life (500 milligrams per liter) in 33 of 62 filtered water samples. The maximum arsenic criterion (340 micrograms per liter) was exceeded twice and the continuous criterion was exceeded seven times. Criteria protecting aquatic life from continuous exposure to aluminum, cadmium, lead, and mercury (87, 0.72, 2.5, and 0.77 micrograms per liter, respectively) were exceeded only once in filtered samples (27, 40, 32, and 36 samples, respectively). Mercury was the only trace element analyzed in bottom-sediment samples to exceed the published probable effect concentration (1,060 micrograms per kilogram).

The effects of sample preparation on measured concentrations of eight elements in edible tissues of fish from streams contaminated by lead mining

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schmitt, Christopher J.; Finger, Susan E.

1987-01-01

The influence of sample preparation on measured concentrations of eight elements in the edible tissues of two black basses (Centrarchidae), two catfishes (Ictaluridae), and the black redhorse,Moxostoma duquesnei (Catostomidae) from two rivers in southeastern Missouri contaminated by mining and related activities was investigated. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ba, and Ca were measured in two skinless, boneless samples of axial muscle from individual fish prepared in a clean room. One sample (normally-processed) was removed from each fish with a knife in a manner typically used by investigators to process fish for elemental analysis and presumedly representative of methods employed by anglers when preparing fish for home consumption. A second sample (clean-processed) was then prepared from each normally-processed sample by cutting away all surface material with acid-cleaned instruments under ultraclean conditions. The samples were analyzed as a single group by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Of the elements studied, only Pb regularly exceeded current guidelines for elemental contaminants in foods. Concentrations were high in black redhorse from contaminated sites, regardless of preparation method; for the other fishes, whether or not Pb guidelines were exceeded depended on preparation technique. Except for Mn and Ca, concentrations of all elements measured were significantly lower in cleanthan in normally-processed tissue samples. Absolute differences in measured concentrations between clean- and normally-processed samples were most evident for Pb and Ba in bass and catfish and for Cd and Zn in redhorse. Regardless of preparation method, concentrations of Pb, Ca, Mn, and Ba in individual fish were closely correlated; samples that were high or low in one of these four elements were correspondingly high or low in the other three. In contrast, correlations between Zn, Fe, and Cd occurred only in normallyprocessed samples, suggesting that these correlations resulted from high concentrations on the surfaces of some samples. Concentrations of Pb and Ba in edible tissues of fish from contaminated sites were highly correlated with Ca content, which was probably determined largely by the amount of tissue other than muscle in the sample because fish muscle contains relatively little Ca. Accordingly, variation within a group of similar samples can be reduced by normalizing Pb and Ba concentrations to a standard Ca concentration. When sample size (N) is large, this can be accomplished statistically by analysis of covariance; whenN is small, molar ratios of [Pb]/[Ca] and [Ba]/[Ca] can be computed. Without such adjustments, unrealistically large Ns are required to yield statistically reliable estimates of Pb concentrations in edible tissues. Investigators should acknowledge that reported concentrations of certain elements are only estimates, and that regardless of the care exercised during the collection, preparation, and analysis of samples, results should be interpreted with the awareness that contamination from external sources may have occurred.

The Review of Nuclear Microscopy Techniques: An Approach for Nondestructive Trace Elemental Analysis and Mapping of Biological Materials.

PubMed

Mulware, Stephen Juma

2015-01-01

The properties of many biological materials often depend on the spatial distribution and concentration of the trace elements present in a matrix. Scientists have over the years tried various techniques including classical physical and chemical analyzing techniques each with relative level of accuracy. However, with the development of spatially sensitive submicron beams, the nuclear microprobe techniques using focused proton beams for the elemental analysis of biological materials have yielded significant success. In this paper, the basic principles of the commonly used microprobe techniques of STIM, RBS, and PIXE for trace elemental analysis are discussed. The details for sample preparation, the detection, and data collection and analysis are discussed. Finally, an application of the techniques to analysis of corn roots for elemental distribution and concentration is presented.

PIXE Analysis of Atmospheric Aerosol Samples Collected in the Adirondack Mountains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoskowitz, Josh; Ali, Salina; Nadareski, Benjamin; Safiq, Alexandrea; Smith, Jeremy; Labrake, Scott; Vineyard, Michael

2013-10-01

We have performed an elemental analysis of atmospheric aerosol samples collected at Piseco Lake in Upstate New York using proton induced x-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE). This work is part of a systematic study of airborne pollution in the Adirondack Mountains. Of particular interest is the sulfur content that can contribute to acid rain, a well-documented problem in the Adirondacks. We used a nine-stage cascade impactor to collect the samples and distribute the particulate matter onto Kapton foils by particle size. The PIXE experiments were performed with 2.2-MeV proton beams from the 1.1-MV pelletron accelerator in the Union College Ion-Beam Analysis Laboratory. X-Ray energy spectra were measured with a silicon drift detector and analyzed with GUPIX software to determine the elemental concentrations of the aerosols. A broad range of elements from silicon to zinc were detected with significant sulfur concentrations measured for particulate matter between 0.25 and 0.5 μm in size. The PIXE analysis will be described and preliminary results will be presented.

Total Mercury, Methylmercury, Inorganic Arsenic and Other Elements in Meat from Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) from the North East Atlantic Ocean.

PubMed

Maage, Amund; Nilsen, Bente M; Julshamn, Kaare; Frøyland, Livar; Valdersnes, Stig

2017-08-01

Meat samples of 84 minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) mainly from the Barents Sea, collected between 1 May and 16 August 2011, were analyzed for total mercury, methylmercury, cadmium, lead, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic and selenium. The average total mercury concentration found was 0.15 ± 0.09 mg/kg, with a range from 0.05 to 0.49 mg/kg. The molar ratio of selenium to mercury varied between 1.0 and 10.3. Cadmium content ranged from 0.002 to 0.036 mg/kg, while the content of lead in whale meat ranged from <0.01 to 0.09 mg/kg. None of the whale samples exceeded established EU maximum levels for metals in fish muscle, but 4.8% and 6.8% of the samples exceeded Japanese maximum levels for total mercury and methylmercury, respectively, in whale meat. There was only minor variations in element concentrations between whales from different geographical areas, and cadmium was the only element were the concentration increased with increasing length.

Movement of elements into the atmosphere from coniferous trees in subalpine forests of colorado and Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Curtin, G.C.; King, H.D.; Mosier, E.L.

1974-01-01

Exudates from conifer trees, presumably consisting largely of volatile materials, were sampled at 19 subalpine localitites in Colorado and Idaho where anomalous amounts of several metals were determined in vegetation and mull during previous geochemical testing. The trees sampled were lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The condensed exudates were passed through No. 40 Whatman filters, and through 5-micron, 0.45-micron, and 0.05-micron average-pore-diameter membrane filters, evaporated to dryness, and each residue was ashed and analyzed by a semiquantitative spectrographic method. The ashed residues of the exudates contain lithium, beryllium, boron, sodium, magnesium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, arsenic, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, lead, bismuth, cadmium, tin, antimony, barium, and lanthanum. The presence of these elements suggests that volatile exudates from vegetation are a medium for the transport of elements in the biogeochemical cycle in subalpine environments. Thus, air sampling and analysis of aerosols derived from volatile exudates may be a useful tool in geochemical exploration. ?? 1974.

Particulate Matter Sources and Composition near a Shrinking Saline Lake (Salton Sea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frie, A. L.; Dingle, J. H.; Garrison, A.; Ying, S.; Bahreini, R.

2017-12-01

Dried lake beds (playas) are large dust sources in arid regions, and with increased global water demand many large lakes are shrinking. The Salton Sea is an example of one such lake in the early stages of desiccation, with about 15,000 acres of exposed playa. To quantify the impacts of the shrinking lake on airborne particulate matter(PM) composition, PM samples were collected in August of 2015 and February of 2016 near the Salton Sea, CA. These samples were analyzed for total elemental concentration of 15 elements. For these elements, enrichment factors relative to aluminum were calculated and PMF modeling was applied to deconvolve source factors. From these data, desert-like and playa-like sources were estimated to accounted for 45% and 9% of PM10 mass during these sampling periods. PMF results also revealed that playa sources account for 70% of PM10 Na, evidencing playa-driven PM compositional changes. Additionally, PM Se displayed strong seasonal variation, which is thought to be driven by Se volatilization within Salton Sea sediments, playas, or waters.

Analysis of metal-laden water via portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pearson, Delaina; Weindorf, David C.; Chakraborty, Somsubhra; Li, Bin; Koch, Jaco; Van Deventer, Piet; de Wet, Jandre; Kusi, Nana Yaw

2018-06-01

A rapid method for in-situ elemental composition analysis of metal-laden water would be indispensable for studying polluted water. Current analytical lab methods to determine water quality include flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (EAAS), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy. However only two field methods, colorimetry and absorptiometry, exist for elemental analysis of water. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry is an effective method for elemental analysis of soil, sediment, and other matrices. However, the accuracy of PXRF is known to be affected while scanning moisture-laden soil samples. This study sought to statistically establish PXRF's predictive ability for various elements in water at different concentrations relative to inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). A total of 390 metal-laden water samples collected from leaching columns of mine tailings in South Africa were analyzed via PXRF and ICP-AES. The PXRF showed differential effectiveness in elemental quantification. For the collected water samples, the best relationships between ICP and PXRF elemental data were obtained for K and Cu (R2 = 0.92). However, when scanning ICP calibration solutions with elements in isolation, PXRF results indicated near perfect agreement; Ca, K, Fe, Cu and Pb produced an R2 of 0.99 while Zn and Mn produced an R2 of 1.00. The utilization of multiple PXRF (stacked) beams produced stronger correlation to ICP relative to the use of a single beam in isolation. The results of this study demonstrated the PXRF's ability to satisfactorily predict the composition of metal-laden water as reported by ICP for several elements. Additionally this study indicated the need for a "Water Mode" calibration for the PXRF and demonstrates the potential of PXRF for future study of polluted or contaminated waters.

An assessment of the risk of element contamination of urban and industrial areas using Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia as a bioindicator.

PubMed

Fröhlichová, Alena; Száková, Jiřina; Najmanová, Jana; Tlustoš, Pavel

2018-02-19

Central Bohemia (Czech Republic) has highly developed industry and a dense rail network. Here, we aimed to determine the content of risk elements in dandelion plants (Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia) growing near train stations, industrial enterprises, and in the city parks of 16 cities in the Central Bohemian region. The highest element contents in the soils were found in industrial areas affected by the historical mining and smelting activities; contemporary industry showed no substantial effect on the soil element contents. The median values of element contents (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) at the railway station sites were the highest among the monitored sites, where the differences between park and station sites were significant for Be, Co, and Zn. Although the intensity of the traffic at the individual stations differed, we found that long-term regular traffic enhanced the element contents in the soils and, subsequently, in the plants. For Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn, the highest median element contents were found in plant roots, regardless of the sampling site. For Cd and Zn, the contents in leaves were higher than in the inflorescences, and the opposite pattern was recorded for Co and Cu. As and Be were distributed equally among the plant parts. Among the sampling sites, the As, Be, Cd, Zn, and Pb contents in the plant roots tended to have higher median values at the station sites, confirming the results of our soil analyses. We detected a fairly good correlation between soil and plant content for cadmium, regardless of the sampling site, soil element content, or analyzed part of the plant. Thus, we propose that dandelion is a suitable bioindicator of cadmium pollution of soil.

Predicting risk of trace element pollution from municipal roads using site-specific soil samples and remotely sensed data.

PubMed

Reeves, Mari Kathryn; Perdue, Margaret; Munk, Lee Ann; Hagedorn, Birgit

2018-07-15

Studies of environmental processes exhibit spatial variation within data sets. The ability to derive predictions of risk from field data is a critical path forward in understanding the data and applying the information to land and resource management. Thanks to recent advances in predictive modeling, open source software, and computing, the power to do this is within grasp. This article provides an example of how we predicted relative trace element pollution risk from roads across a region by combining site specific trace element data in soils with regional land cover and planning information in a predictive model framework. In the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, we sampled 36 sites (191 soil samples) adjacent to roads for trace elements. We then combined this site specific data with freely-available land cover and urban planning data to derive a predictive model of landscape scale environmental risk. We used six different model algorithms to analyze the dataset, comparing these in terms of their predictive abilities and the variables identified as important. Based on comparable predictive abilities (mean R 2 from 30 to 35% and mean root mean square error from 65 to 68%), we averaged all six model outputs to predict relative levels of trace element deposition in soils-given the road surface, traffic volume, sample distance from the road, land cover category, and impervious surface percentage. Mapped predictions of environmental risk from toxic trace element pollution can show land managers and transportation planners where to prioritize road renewal or maintenance by each road segment's relative environmental and human health risk. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Determination of trace metals in drinking water in Irbid City-Northern Jordan.

PubMed

Alomary, Ahmed

2013-02-01

Drinking water samples from Irbid, the second populated city in Jordan were analyzed for trace metals (As, Ba, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Se) content. The study was undertaken to determine if the metal concentrations were within the national and international guidelines. A total of 90 drinking water samples were collected from Al-Yarmouk University area. The samples were collected from three different water types: tap water (TW), home-purified water (HPW), and plant-purified water (PPW). All the samples were analyzed for trace metals using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. All the samples analyzed were within the United States Environmental Protection Agency admissible pH limit (6.5-8.5). The results showed that concentrations of the trace metals vary significantly between the three drinking water types. The results showed that HPW samples have the lowest level of trace metals and the concentrations of some essential trace metals in these samples are less than the recommended amounts. Slight differences in the metal contents were found between HPW samples, little differences between PPW samples; however, significant differences were found between TW samples. Although some TW samples showed high levels of trace metals, however, the mean level of most elements determined in the samples were well within the Jordanian standards as well as the World Health Organization standards for drinking water.

Multielement analysis of interplanetary dust particles using TOF-SIMS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stephan, T.; Kloeck, W.; Jessberger, E. K.; Rulle, H.; Zehnpfenning, J.

1993-01-01

Sections of three stratospheric particles (U2015G1, W7029*A27, and L2005P9) were analyzed with TOF-SIMS (Time Of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) continuing our efforts to investigate the element distribution in interplanetary dust particles (IDP's) with high lateral resolution (approximately 0.2 micron), to examine possible atmospheric contamination effects, and to further explore the abilities of this technique for element analysis of small samples. The samples, previously investigated with SXRF (synchrotron X-ray fluorescence analysis), are highly enriched in Br (Br/Fe: 59 x CI, 9.2 x CI, and 116 x CI, respectively). U2015G1 is the IDP with the by far highest Zn/Fe-ratio (81 x CI) ever reported in chondritic particles.

A Study of Chemical Composition of δ Scuti-Type Stars Based on the Observations with the BTA and RTT-150

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galeev, A. I.; Berdnikova, V. M.; Ivanova, D. V.; Kudryavtsev, D. O.; Shimanskaya, N. N.; Shimansky, V. V.; Balashova, M. O.

2017-06-01

The results of a study of a sample of δ Scuti-type stars obtained from the observations with the BTA and RTT-150 are presented. Based on photometric data, we measured and analyzed the fundamental parameters of all the studied stars. For eight stars (for two of them for the first time), the fundamental parameters of the atmospheres (Teff, log g, [Fe/H]) and the chemical composition for 29 elements in the LTE-approximation are received using spectroscopic observations. The chemical composition analysis demonstrates both the solar abundances of chemical elements and the anomalies of chemical composition typical of Am stars in the studied sample of δ Scuti-type stars.

Analysis of dinosaur samples by nuclear microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xiankang; Orlić, I.; Tang, S. M.; Wang, Yiming; Wang, Xiaohong; Zhu, Jieqing

1997-07-01

Several dinosaur bone and eggshell fossil samples unearthed at different sites in China were analyzed by means of nuclear microscopy. Concentrations and distributions of elements such as Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Sr, Y, Ce, Pb and U, etc. were obtained for each sample. The results of quantitative PIXE and RBS analyses show unusually high concentrations of U and Ce in several samples obtained from a period near the K-T boundary (between Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, 65 million years ago), suggesting that some form of environmental pollution could be the cause of dinosaur extinction.

Estimation of plant sampling uncertainty: an example based on chemical analysis of moss samples.

PubMed

Dołęgowska, Sabina

2016-11-01

In order to estimate the level of uncertainty arising from sampling, 54 samples (primary and duplicate) of the moss species Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. were collected within three forested areas (Wierna Rzeka, Piaski, Posłowice Range) in the Holy Cross Mountains (south-central Poland). During the fieldwork, each primary sample composed of 8 to 10 increments (subsamples) was taken over an area of 10 m 2 whereas duplicate samples were collected in the same way at a distance of 1-2 m. Subsequently, all samples were triple rinsed with deionized water, dried, milled, and digested (8 mL HNO 3 (1:1) + 1 mL 30 % H 2 O 2 ) in a closed microwave system Multiwave 3000. The prepared solutions were analyzed twice for Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn using FAAS and GFAAS techniques. All datasets were checked for normality and for normally distributed elements (Cu from Piaski, Zn from Posłowice, Fe, Zn from Wierna Rzeka). The sampling uncertainty was computed with (i) classical ANOVA, (ii) classical RANOVA, (iii) modified RANOVA, and (iv) range statistics. For the remaining elements, the sampling uncertainty was calculated with traditional and/or modified RANOVA (if the amount of outliers did not exceed 10 %) or classical ANOVA after Box-Cox transformation (if the amount of outliers exceeded 10 %). The highest concentrations of all elements were found in moss samples from Piaski, whereas the sampling uncertainty calculated with different statistical methods ranged from 4.1 to 22 %.

Some potential hazardous trace elements contamination and their ecological risk in sediments of western Chaohu Lake, China.

PubMed

Zheng, Liu-Gen; Liu, Gui-Jian; Kang, Yu; Yang, Ren-Kang

2010-07-01

The Chaohu is one of the largest five freshwater lakes in China. It provides freshwater for agriculture, life, and part of industry. The quality of water becomes worst and worst due to the toxic matter. In this study, we collected the samples from the sedimentary mud in the lake. The distribution of some potential hazardous trace elements (Cu, Ni, Cr, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg) in the sediments of western Chaohu Lake, has been determined and studied, and the enrichment factors, the index of geoaccumulation, and potential ecological risk were analyzed and calculated. The results show that: the levels of selected potential hazardous trace element vary from different sampling sites and significant anthropogenic impact of Pb and Cd occur in sediments. The contamination rank of Pb and Cd are moderate, and Pb has a light potential ecological risk, but Cd is heavy. The total potential ecological risk of the selected hazardous trace elements in this study in Chaohu Lake is moderate. Cluster and correlation analysis indicate that the selected potential hazardous trace element pollutant has different source and co-contamination also occur in sediments.

Elemental mapping in a contemporary miniature by full-field X-ray fluorescence imaging with gaseous detector vs. scanning X-ray fluorescence imaging with polycapillary optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, A. L. M.; Cirino, S.; Carvalho, M. L.; Manso, M.; Pessanha, S.; Azevedo, C. D. R.; Carramate, L. F. N. D.; Santos, J. P.; Guerra, M.; Veloso, J. F. C. A.

2017-03-01

Energy dispersive X-ray imaging can be used in several research fields and industrial applications. Elemental mapping through energy dispersive X-ray imaging technique has become a promising method to obtain positional distribution of specific elements in a non-destructive way. To obtain the elemental distribution of a sample it is necessary to use instruments capable of providing a precise positioning together with a good energy resolution. Polycapillary beams together with silicon drift chamber detectors are used in several commercial systems and are considered state-of-the-art spectrometers, however they are usually very costly. A new concept of large energy dispersive X-ray imaging systems based on gaseous radiation detectors emerged in the last years enabling a promising 2D elemental detection at a very reduced price. The main goal of this work is to analyze a contemporary Indian miniature with both X-ray fluorescence imaging systems, the one based on a gaseous detector 2D-THCOBRA and the state-of-the-art spectrometer M4 Tornado, from Bruker. The performance of both systems is compared and evaluated in the context of the sample's analysis.

The chemistry and origin of the ordinary chondrites Implications from refractory-lithophile and siderophile elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fulton, C. R.; Rhodes, J. M.

1984-01-01

Thirty-eight ordinary chondrites (17 H, 20 L, and 1 LL) have been analyzed for major and selected trace elements. These data indicate that the lithophile elements Mg, Ca, Al, Cr, and V normalized to Si are in higher abundance in the H than in the L chondrites. The siderophile elements Ni, Co, and Fe show very good correlation within, as well as between, the two major ordinary chondrite groups. Twenty-four of the analyses are of Antarctic finds, while ten are samples of falls. Comparing the Antarctic data with the fall data reveals no evidence that any of the elements studied here have been mobilized by terrestrial weathering processes. Within the H and L chondrite groups there is little chemical variation, indicating that the source of these samples is remarkably homogeneous. Equilibrium condensate fractionation from a nebula of CI composition can result in the observed ordinary chondrite compositions. The fractionation of metal at about 1440 K (and 0.001 atm) into high and low iron groups, followed by a gas-solid fractionation at about 1380 K with the H group losing more solids than the L, will produce the observed H and L compositions and intragroup trends.

Forensic discrimination of three common brands of kitchen knives in China by ICP-AES and infrared absorption.

PubMed

Bai, Ru-feng; Ma, Shu-hua; Zhang, Hai-dong; Chang, Lin; Zhang, Zhong; Liu, Li; Zhang, Feng-qin; Guo, Zhao-ming; Shi, Mei-sen

2014-03-01

A block of an injury instrument will be left in wounds sometimes, and the suspect instrument can be discriminated by comparison with the block that was left through elemental analysis. In this study, three brands (Shibazi, Zhangxiaoquan, Qiaoxifu) of kitchen knives with forged, chop, and slice application series were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Infrared Absorption to investigate the type, number of elements and the reference range used for comparing. The results show that when regarding one or more element as the discriminative threshold, together with 5% relative standard deviation (RSD) as the reference range, all the samples could be distinguished among different series. Furthermore, within the same series, the discriminative capability could reach up to 88.57% for all samples. In addition, elements with high content, such as Cr, Mn, and C, were useful to discriminate among different series, and trace elements, such as Ni, Si, and Cu, were useful within the same series. However, in practice, it is necessary to evaluate the accuracy of the method by Standard Reference Material (SRM) before an examination is performed.

Trace element distribution in the water and sediments of certain storage lakes from the Jijia catchment, (Romania)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dughila, A.; Iancu, O. G.; Romanescu, G. T.

2012-04-01

The present study aims at investigating the concentrations and distribution levels of a series of trace elements in water and sediment samples collected from six storage lakes located in the Jijia catchment - NE of Romania. The lakes are multi-purpose water reservoirs, three of them being mainly used as a source of municipal drinking water, or for fishing, irrigation for the farms in the area, protection against floods and the regulation of river flows. By contrast, agricultural wastes, fertilizers, raw sewage effluents and road runoff constitute the predominant anthropogenic sources, which supply the lakes in question with Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The present study was conducted on a series of 63 sediment samples and 18 water samples, collected from the same locations, in order to establish the distribution levels of certain trace elements from the water through sediments. Sediment cores were collected from two sections across each lake by means of a motor boat, using a system that consists of a graduated sampling tube (0.9 m in length and 72.5 mm in diameter) made of Plexiglas (Eijkelkamp sample tube guide). Prior to the analyses, the samples were air-dried, ground and homogenized using an agate mortar, oven-dried at 50 °C for 6 days and then sieved through 63 µm sieves. The sediment and water samples were subjected to a digestion technique with concentrated nitric acid using a microwave oven (Berghof type), and analyzed for the following elements: Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr and Ni. The total concentration of the elements was measured through atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with an RSD of < 10 % from solutions. The vertical distribution of most elements in the cores examined could be characterized as relatively uniform, with higher concentrations for those collected from the lakes which are more influenced by anthropogenic factors, compared to those situated in forested areas. The lake-water quality characteristics were below the recommended drinking water standards imposed by the current legislation (MMGA Ord. No. 161/16.02.2006 - Normative regarding the classification of surface waters in order to establish the ecological status of water bodies, which combines European and Romanian provisions), with the exception of copper (with very high concentrations in all the water samples), lead and cadmium. Keywords: AAS, Jijia catchment (Romania), lake water, sediment core, trace elements

Characterization of Tank 51 Sludge Slurry Samples (HTF-51-17-67, -68, -69, -74, -75, and -76) in Support of Sludge Batch 10 Processing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oji, L. N.; Reboul, S. H.

The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was requested by Savannah River Remediation (SRR) Engineering (SRR-E) to provide sample characterization and analyses of Tank 51 sludge samples in support of Sludge Batch (SB) 10. The six Tank 51 sludge samples were sampled and delivered to SRNL in August of 2017. These six Tank 51 sludge samples, after undergoing physical characterizations which included rheology, weight percent total solid, dissolved solids and density measurements, were combined into one composite Tank 51 sample and analyzed for corrosion controls analytes, select radionuclides, chemical elements, density and weight percent total solids.

LIBS: a potential tool for industrial/agricultural waste water analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karpate, Tanvi; K. M., Muhammed Shameem; Nayak, Rajesh; V. K., Unnikrishnan; Santhosh, C.

2016-04-01

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a multi-elemental analysis technique with various advantages and has the ability to detect any element in real time. This technique holds a potential for environmental monitoring and various such analysis has been done in soil, glass, paint, water, plastic etc confirms the robustness of this technique for such applications. Compared to the currently available water quality monitoring methods and techniques, LIBS has several advantages, viz. no need for sample preparation, fast and easy operation, and chemical free during the process. In LIBS, powerful pulsed laser generates plasma which is then analyzed to get quantitative and qualitative details of the elements present in the sample. Another main advantage of LIBS technique is that it can perform in standoff mode for real time analysis. Water samples from industries and agricultural strata tend to have a lot of pollutants making it harmful for consumption. The emphasis of this project is to determine such harmful pollutants present in trace amounts in industrial and agricultural wastewater. When high intensity laser is made incident on the sample, a plasma is generated which gives a multielemental emission spectra. LIBS analysis has shown outstanding success for solids samples. For liquid samples, the analysis is challenging as the liquid sample has the chances of splashing due to the high energy of laser and thus making it difficult to generate plasma. This project also deals with determining the most efficient method for testing of water sample for qualitative as well as quantitative analysis using LIBS.

A laboratory activity for teaching natural radioactivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pilakouta, M.; Savidou, A.; Vasileiadou, S.

2017-01-01

This paper presents an educational approach for teaching natural radioactivity using commercial granite samples. A laboratory activity focusing on the topic of natural radioactivity is designed to develop the knowledge and understanding of undergraduate university students on the topic of radioactivity, to appreciate the importance of environmental radioactivity and familiarize them with the basic technology used in radioactivity measurements. The laboratory activity is divided into three parts: (i) measurements of the count rate with a Geiger-Muller counter of some granite samples and the ambient background radiation rate, (ii) measurement of one of the samples using gamma ray spectrometry with a NaI detector and identification of the radioactive elements of the sample, (iii) using already recorded 24 h gamma ray spectra of the samples from the first part (from the Granite Gamma-Ray Spectrum Library (GGRSL) of our laboratory) and analyzing selected peaks in the spectrum, students estimate the contribution of each radioactive element to the total specific activity of each sample. A brief description of the activity as well as some results and their interpretation are presented.

Preparation of hair for measurement of elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

PubMed

Puchyr, R F; Bass, D A; Gajewski, R; Calvin, M; Marquardt, W; Urek, K; Druyan, M E; Quig, D

1998-06-01

The preparation of hair for the determination of elements is a critical component of the analysis procedure. Open-beaker, closed-vessel microwave, and flowthrough microwave digestion are methods that have been used for sample preparation and are discussed. A new digestion method for use with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been developed. The method uses 0.2 g of hair and 3 mL of concentrated nitric acid in an atmospheric pressure-low-temperature microwave digestion (APLTMD) system. This preparation method is useful in handling a large numbers of samples per day and may be adapted to hair sample weights ranging from 0.08 to 0.3 g. After digestion, samples are analyzed by ICP-MS to determine the concentration of Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U. Benefits of the APLTMD include reduced contamination and sample handling, and increased precision, reliability, and sample throughput.

Geochemistry of soils and shallow ground water, with emphasis on arsenic and selenium, in part of the Garrison Diversion Unit, North Dakota, 1985-87

USGS Publications Warehouse

Goolsby, D.A.; Severson, R.C.; Wilson, S.A.; Webber, Kurt

1989-01-01

The Garrison Diversion Unit is being constructed to transfer water from the Missouri River (Lake Sakakawea) to areas in east-central and southeastern North Dakota for expanded irrigation of agricultural lands. During initial investigations of irrigation return flows in 1969-76, the potential effects of toxic elements were considered, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation concluded these elements would have no adverse effects on streams receiving return flows. After the development of problems associated with selenium in irrigation return flows in the western San Joaquin Valley, Calif., in 1985, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation initiated additional studies, including an investigation conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, to assist in collecting and evaluating trace-element data. Also, in 1986, with the passage of the Garrison Diversion Unit Reformulation Act, Congress mandated that soil surveys be conducted to determine if there are "*** soil characteristics which might result in toxic or hazardous irrigation return flows."In order to address this issue, an investigation was conducted during 1995-87 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to determine the occurrence and distribution of arsenic, selenium, and other trace elements in the soils of six potential irrigation areas along the Garrison Diversion Unit route and in the James River basin. A total of 165 soil samples were collected and analyzed for total concentrations of as many as 42 elements, including arsenic and selenium. In addition, 81 of the samples were analyzed for water-extractable concentrations of 14 elements, including arsenic and selenium, to aid in determining the extent to which they might be mobilized by the irrigation water. In a detailed phase of the investigation, 376 water samples were collected in one of the six potential irrigation areas, the west Oakes irrigation area. Most of these samples were analyzed for arsenic, selenium, and as many as 28 other elements.Results of the investigation indicate that soils in the potential irrigation areas contain small concentrations of arsenic, selenium, and other trace elements. The geometric mean concentrations of total arsenic and selenium were 4.15 and 0.13 milligrams per kilogram, respectively, which are considerably smaller than those measured in the western San Joaquin Valley, Calif., and soils from other areas in the western United States. Water-extractable concentrations of arsenic and selenium, determined on 1:5 soil to water extractions, generally were less than 10 percent of the total concentrations. The geometric mean water-extractable concentrations for both elements were 0.02 milligram per kilogram or less.The median and maximum concentrations of all constituents and properties indicative of irrigation drainage were tens to hundreds of times smaller in the Oakes test area drains than in western San Joaquin Valley drains. The maximum arsenic concentration in ground-water samples was 44 micrograms per liter, and the median concentration was 4 micrograms per liter. The maximum concentration in drain samples was 11 micrograms per liter, and the median concentration was 3 micrograms per liter.Only 22 percent of the water samples collected from wells in the Oakes test area contained detectable concentrations (1 microgram per liter or more) of selenium. However, selenium was detected in 63 percent of the samples collected from sites on drains. The greater incidence of detection of selenium in the drain samples is interpreted as an effect of the more oxidizing environment of the drains, which are about 8 feet below land surface near the top of the water table. The median selenium concentration in the drain samples, however, was only 1 microgram per liter, and the maximum concentration in 63 drain samples was 4 micrograms per liter. For comparison, the median selenium concentrations reported for drains in the western San Joaquin Valley, Calif., ranged from 84 to 320 micrograms per liter. Mater from two observation wells had the largest selenium concentrations (8 and 9 micrograms per liter) measured during the investigation. These were the only two samples that exceeded any of the water-quality regulations, standards, or criteria for selenium. Mercury and boron were the only other trace elements that exceeded standards and criteria. The median concentration of mercury was less than 0.1 microgram per liter, and the maximum concentration was 0.8 microgram per liter. The chronic freshwater-aquatic-life criterion for mercury (0.012 microgram per liter) is about 10 times less than the laboratory detection limit and is derived from bioconcentration factors based on methylmercury. Two boron samples exceeded the irrigation criteria of 750 micrograms per liter. Comparisons with criteria and standards indicate that the concentrations of trace elements determined in samples from wells and drains in the Oakes test area during this investigation should not adversely affect human and aquatic life or irrigated crops. The data collected indicate that the soils and ground water in the Garrison Diversion Unit contain small concentrations of trace elements, including arsenic and selenium. Based on a detailed study of soils and ground water in the west Oakes irrigation area, however, there is no evidence that expanded irrigation will mobilize these elements in concentrations large enough to adversely affect aquatic life in the James River ecosystem, based on current regulations, standards, and criteria. Data are not currently available to make definitive statements about selenium concentrations in ground water in Garrison Diversion Unit irrigation areas other than the west Oakes Irrigation area. Data available on total and water-extractable selenium concentrations in soils t however, indicate that concentrations in ground water would be similar to those determined in the west Oakes irrigation area. Plans have been developed to sample ground water in the additional areas.

Co-occurrence profiles of trace elements in potable water systems: a case study.

PubMed

Andra, Syam S; Makris, Konstantinos C; Charisiadis, Pantelis; Costa, Costas N

2014-11-01

Potable water samples (N = 74) from 19 zip code locations in a region of Greece were profiled for 13 trace elements composition using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The primary objective was to monitor the drinking water quality, while the primary focus was to find novel associations in trace elements occurrence that may further shed light on common links in their occurrence and fate in the pipe scales and corrosion products observed in urban drinking water distribution systems. Except for arsenic at two locations and in six samples, rest of the analyzed elements was below maximum contaminant levels, for which regulatory values are available. Further, we attempted to hierarchically cluster trace elements based on their covariances resulting in two groups; one with arsenic, antimony, zinc, cadmium, and copper and the second with the rest of the elements. The grouping trends were partially explained by elements' similar chemical activities in water, underscoring their potential for co-accumulation and co-mobilization phenomena from pipe scales into finished water. Profiling patterns of trace elements in finished water could be indicative of their load on pipe scales and corrosion products, with a corresponding risk of episodic contaminant release. Speculation was made on the role of disinfectants and disinfection byproducts in mobilizing chemically similar trace elements of human health interest from pipe scales to tap water. It is warranted that further studies may eventually prove useful to water regulators from incorporating the acquired knowledge in the drinking water safety plans.

Occurrence and distribution of pesticides in surface waters of the Hood River basin, Oregon, 1999-2009

USGS Publications Warehouse

Temple, Whitney B.; Johnson, Henry M.

2011-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey analyzed pesticide and trace-element concentration data from the Hood River basin collected by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) from 1999 through 2009 to determine the distribution and concentrations of pesticides in the basin's surface waters. Instream concentrations were compared to (1) national and State water-quality standards established to protect aquatic organisms and (2) concentrations that cause sublethal or lethal effects in order to assess their potential to adversely affect the health of salmonids and their prey organisms. Three salmonid species native to the basin are listed as "threatened" under the U.S. Endangered Species Act: bull trout, steelhead, and Chinook salmon. A subset of 16 sites was sampled every year by the ODEQ for pesticides, with sample collection targeted to months of peak pesticide use in orchards (March-June and September). Ten pesticides and four pesticide degradation products were analyzed from 1999 through 2008; 100 were analyzed in 2009. Nineteen pesticides were detected: 11 insecticides, 6 herbicides, and 2 fungicides. Two of four insecticide degradation products were detected. All five detected organophosphate insecticides and the one detected organochlorine insecticide were present at concentrations exceeding water-quality standards, sublethal effects thresholds, or acute toxicity values in one or more samples. The frequency of organophosphate detection in the basin decreased during the period of record; however, changes in sampling schedule and laboratory reporting limits hindered clear analysis of detection frequency trends. Detected herbicide and fungicide concentrations were less than water-quality standards, sublethal effects thresholds, or acute toxicity values. Simazine, the most frequently detected pesticide, was the only herbicide detected at concentrations within an order of magnitude (factor of 10) of concentrations that impact salmonid olfaction. Some detected pesticides are of concern, not for their toxicity alone, but for their ability to potentiate the harmful impacts of other pesticides, particularly organophosphates, on salmonids or their prey. Many samples contained mixtures of pesticides, but the effects to salmonids of relevant mixtures at environmentally realistic concentrations for the basin are unknown. Trace-element concentration data, although limited, indicate that eight trace elements are also of concern for their potential to harm salmonid health. The dataset is limited with regard to the spatial and seasonal distribution of pesticides and trace elements in all salmonid-bearing streams, the presence of particle-bound pesticides, and the presence of several unmonitored pesticides known to be used in the basin.

The measurement of trace elements in interplanetary dust and cometary particles by ultra-high sensitivity INAA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zolensky, M. E.; Lindstrom, David J.; Lindstrom, Richard M.; Lindstrom, M. M.

1989-01-01

Today the major elemental composition of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) is routinely determined in many laboratories. These and mineralogical studies have revealed the presence of at least two major types of IDPs, chondritic and refractory. Preliminary results of a successful attempt to determine abundances of a large suite of trace elements from both chondritic and refractory IDPs are reported. The analytical procedure can be used in the grain-by-grain analysis of returned cometary samples. Chondritic and refractory IDPs are characterized by standard scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) techniques. With this system, detection limits for many elements are well below picogram levels, and some approach femtogram levels. This technique is non-destructive, although some sample handling is required, so particles can be analyzed by other techniques after instrument neutron activation analysis (INAA) is completed. Data is presently being reduced from the analyses of 7 IDPs. These are U2015E10, U2015F1, W7029-A2, W7029-A3, W7013A8, LACl (all chondritic) and 705 (refractory). So far, 17 different major and trace elements were detected and measured in these particles, including rare earths and some very volatile elements (Br and Zn).

Inertial impaction air sampling device

DOEpatents

Dewhurst, K.H.

1990-05-22

An inertial impactor is designed which is to be used in an air sampling device for collection of respirable size particles in ambient air. The device may include a graphite furnace as the impaction substrate in a small-size, portable, direct analysis structure that gives immediate results and is totally self-contained allowing for remote and/or personal sampling. The graphite furnace collects suspended particles transported through the housing by means of the air flow system, and these particles may be analyzed for elements, quantitatively and qualitatively, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 3 figs.

Forensic analysis of printing inks using tandem Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subedi, Kiran; Trejos, Tatiana; Almirall, José

2015-01-01

Elemental analysis, using either LA-ICP-MS or LIBS, can be used for the chemical characterization of materials of forensic interest to discriminate between source materials originating from different sources and also for the association of materials known to originate from the same source. In this study, a tandem LIBS/LA-ICP-MS system that combines the benefits of both LIBS and LA-ICP-MS was evaluated for the characterization of samples of printing inks (toners, inkjets, intaglio and offset.). The performance of both laser sampling methods is presented. A subset of 9 black laser toners, 10 colored (CMYK) inkjet samples, 12 colored (CMYK) offset samples and 12 intaglio inks originating from different manufacturing sources were analyzed to evaluate the discrimination capability of the tandem method. These samples were selected because they presented a very similar elemental profile by LA-ICP-MS. Although typical discrimination between different ink sources is found to be > 99% for a variety of inks when only LA-ICP-MS was used for the analysis, additional discrimination was achieved by combining the elemental results from the LIBS analysis to the LA-ICP-MS analysis in the tandem technique, enhancing the overall discrimination capability of the individual laser ablation methods. The LIBS measurements of the Ca, Fe, K and Si signals, in particular, improved the discrimination for this specific set of different ink samples previously shown to exhibit very similar LA-ICP-MS elemental profiles. The combination of these two techniques in a single setup resulted in better discrimination of the printing inks with two distinct fingerprint spectra, providing information from atomic/ionic emissions and isotopic composition (m/z) for each ink sample.

Relationships among multiple trace elements in coastal Casuarina equisetifolia ecosystems on Hainan Island, South China.

PubMed

Liu, Qiang; Bi, Hua; Hung, Lan; Peng, Shaolin; Sheng, Chengde

2006-01-01

Forty-six trace elements in coastal Casuarina equisetifolia plant-soil systems at nine sampling sites on Hainan Island were analyzed using ICP-MS. The relationships among the trace elements of the same group or the same periodicity of the Periodic Table in the plants and soils were complex and no consistent patterns were found. More combinations of elements occurred with high positive correlation coefficients within the same periodicity than within the same group of the Periodic Table, and there were more high positive correlations in soils than in plants. However, there were many element combinations in Block d (transition elements) with high positive correlation coefficients in plants. Markedly high positive correlation coefficients between individual rare earth elements and Y and among Zr, Nb, Cd existed in both plants and soils. The dendrograms obtained by cluster analysis show that rare earth elements had very similar occurrence and distribution in both soils and plants. Thus, they behaved as a coherent group of elements both geochemically and biogeochemically. The transition elements were more coherent in plants than in soils.

Analytical performance of benchtop total reflection X-ray fluorescence instrumentation for multielemental analysis of wine samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalipi, Rogerta; Marguí, Eva; Borgese, Laura; Bilo, Fabjola; Depero, Laura E.

2016-06-01

Recent technological improvements have led to a widespread adoption of benchtop total reflection X-ray fluorescence systems (TXRF) for analysis of liquid samples. However, benchtop TXRF systems usually present limited sensitivity compared with high-scale instrumentation which can restrict its application in some fields. The aim of the present work was to evaluate and compare the analytical capabilities of two TXRF systems, equipped with low power Mo and W target X-ray tubes, for multielemental analysis of wine samples. Using the Mo-TXRF system, the detection limits for most elements were one order of magnitude lower than those attained using the W-TXRF system. For the detection of high Z elements like Cd and Ag, however, W-TXRF remains a very good option due to the possibility of K-Lines detection. Accuracy and precision of the obtained results have been evaluated analyzing spiked real wine samples and comparing the TXRF results with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). In general, good agreement was obtained between ICP-OES and TXRF results for the analysis of both red and white wine samples except for light elements (i.e., K) which TXRF concentrations were underestimated. However, a further achievement of analytical quality of TXRF results can be achieved if wine analysis is performed after dilution of the sample with de-ionized water.

A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Managadze, G. G.; Safronova, A. A.; Luchnikov, K. A.; Vorobyova, E. A.; Duxbury, N. S.; Wurz, P.; Managadze, N. G.; Chumikov, A. E.; Khamizov, R. Kh.

2017-05-01

We propose a new technique for the detection of microorganisms by elemental composition analyses of a sample extracted from regolith, permafrost, and ice of extraterrestrial bodies. We also describe the design of the ABIMAS instrument, which consists of the onboard time-of-flight laser mass-reflectron (TOF LMR) and the sample preparation unit (SPU) for biomass extraction. This instrument was initially approved to fly on board the ExoMars 2020 lander mission. The instrument can be used to analyze the elemental composition of possible extraterrestrial microbial communities and compare it to that of terrestrial microorganisms. We have conducted numerous laboratory studies to confirm the possibility of biomass identification via the following biomarkers: P/S and Ca/K ratios, and C and N abundances. We underline that only the combination of these factors will allow one to discriminate microbial samples from geological ones. Our technique has been tested experimentally in numerous laboratory trials on cultures of microorganisms and polar permafrost samples as terrestrial analogues for martian polar soils. We discuss various methods of extracting microorganisms and sample preparation. The developed technique can be used to search for and identify microorganisms in different martian samples and in the subsurface of other planets, satellites, comets, and asteroids—in particular, Europa, Ganymede, and Enceladus.

Near real time vapor detection and enhancement using aerosol adsorption

DOEpatents

Novick, Vincent J.; Johnson, Stanley A.

1999-01-01

A vapor sample detection method where the vapor sample contains vapor and ambient air and surrounding natural background particles. The vapor sample detection method includes the steps of generating a supply of aerosol that have a particular effective median particle size, mixing the aerosol with the vapor sample forming aerosol and adsorbed vapor suspended in an air stream, impacting the suspended aerosol and adsorbed vapor upon a reflecting element, alternatively directing infrared light to the impacted aerosol and adsorbed vapor, detecting and analyzing the alternatively directed infrared light in essentially real time using a spectrometer and a microcomputer and identifying the vapor sample.

Analytical results for 544 water samples collected in the Attean Quartz Monzonite in the vicinity of Jackman, Maine

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ficklin, W.H.; Nowlan, G.A.; Preston, D.J.

1983-01-01

Water samples were collected in the vicinity of Jackman, Maine as a part of the study of the relationship of dissolved constituents in water to the sediments subjacent to the water. Each sample was analyzed for specific conductance, alkalinity, acidity, pH, fluoride, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and silica. Trace elements determined were copper, zinc, molybdenum, lead, iron, manganese, arsenic, cobalt, nickel, and strontium. The longitude and latitude of each sample location and a sample site map are included in the report as well as a table of the analytical results.

Near real time vapor detection and enhancement using aerosol adsorption

DOEpatents

Novick, V.J.; Johnson, S.A.

1999-08-03

A vapor sample detection method is described where the vapor sample contains vapor and ambient air and surrounding natural background particles. The vapor sample detection method includes the steps of generating a supply of aerosol that have a particular effective median particle size, mixing the aerosol with the vapor sample forming aerosol and adsorbed vapor suspended in an air stream, impacting the suspended aerosol and adsorbed vapor upon a reflecting element, alternatively directing infrared light to the impacted aerosol and adsorbed vapor, detecting and analyzing the alternatively directed infrared light in essentially real time using a spectrometer and a microcomputer and identifying the vapor sample. 13 figs.

230Th-U dating of surficial deposits using the ion microprobe (SHRIMP-RG): A microstratigraphic perspective

USGS Publications Warehouse

Maher, K.; Wooden, J.L.; Paces, J.B.; Miller, D.M.

2007-01-01

We used the sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe reverse-geometry (SHRIMP-RG) to date pedogenic opal using the 230Th-U system. Due to the high-spatial resolution of an ion microprobe (typically 30 ??m), regions of pure opal within a sample can be targeted and detrital material can be avoided. In addition, because the technique is non-destructive, the sample can be preserved for other types of analyses including electron microprobe or other stable isotope or trace element ion microprobe measurements. The technique is limited to material with U concentrations greater than ???50 ppm. However, the high spatial resolution, small sample requirements, and the ability to avoid detrital material make this technique a suitable technique for dating many Pleistocene deposits formed in semi-arid environments. To determine the versatility of the method, samples from several different deposits were analyzed, including silica-rich pebble coatings from pedogenic carbonate horizons, a siliceous sinter deposit, and opaline silica deposited as a spring mound. U concentrations for 30-??m-diameter spots ranged from 50 to 1000 ppm in these types of materials. The 230Th/232Th activity ratios also ranged from ???100 to 106, eliminating the need for detrital Th corrections that reduce the precision of traditional U-Th ages for many milligram- and larger-sized samples. In pedogenic material, layers of high-U opal (ca. 500 ppm) are commonly juxtaposed next to layers of calcite with much lower U concentrations (1-2 ppm). If these types of samples are not analyzed using a technique with the appropriate spatial resolution, the ages may be strongly biased towards the age of the opal. Comparison with standard TIMS (Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry) measurements from separate microdrilled samples suggests that although the analytical precision of the ion microprobe (SHRIMP-RG) measurements is less than TIMS, the high spatial resolution results in better accuracy in the age determination for finely layered or complex deposits. The ion microprobe approach also may be useful for pre-screening samples to determine the age and degree of post-depositional alteration, analyzing finely layered samples or samples with complex growth histories, and obtaining simultaneous measurements of trace elements.

New Discoveries of Trr and Radiopactive Elements of Phosphogypsum from Romania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maruta Iancu, Aurora; Georgeta Dumitras, Delia; Marincea, Stefan

2014-05-01

Phosphogypsum is a technogenic product remaining after the extraction of phosphoric acid from raw phosphate, mainly apatite. Some radioactive elements presented in the phosphate original rock, consisting in apatit, are Ra-226, th-232, U-238, Pb-210, Po-240, K-210, that can be also found in the phosphogypsum. Determination of elements has been carried out on phosphogypsum samples from Turnu Magurele (TR), Valea Calugareasca (VC), Navodari (N) and Bacau (B). The most important minor elements of phosphogypsum are Th and U. The radioactivity of isotopes from Bacau samples of phosphogypsum is: U-238 exceeding (ppm) - 40,50; 31,96; 17,49; 30,00; 31,00 and Th-232 (ppm) - 8,07; 6,07; 6,41; 7,80; 6,41. The radiometric analyzes confirmed that Bacau county phosphogypsum have higher concentrations of U, while the content in Th is lower. The radioactivity of isotopes from samples of Navodari phosphogypsum is U-238 (ppm) - 37,00; 40,97; 10,84; 25,72 and Th-232 (ppm) - 6,82; 7,04; 6,19; 7,55. The radioactivity of isotopes from Turnu Magurele phosphogypsum samples is: U-232 (ppm) - 1,51; 21,92; 28,71; 6,92, 10,79, 11,00, and Th 232 (ppm) - 3,87; 7,29; 10,65; 6,22; 6,77; 5,45. The radiaoactivity of isotopes from Valea Calugareasca samples of phosphogypsum is: U-238 (ppm) - 17,60; 22,35; 17,93; 18,78 and Th-232 (ppm) - 5,98; 7,12; 7,85; 8,07. As in the case of the phosphogypsum analyzed in Bacau, as well as in the zones TM, VC and N, the radiometric analyzes results indicate a high content of U-232 and lower in Th-232. In conclusion, based on the analyzes carried out on samples of phosphogypsum from the four areas, and the higher U and lower Th contents, it follows that we are dealing with phosphogypsum thet results from a sedimentary type rock. Inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analyses performed on selected samples of phosphogypsum from the four deposits showed that the contents in the main REE (cerium, erbium, neodymium, thorium, ytterbium) are specific for the phosphogypsum issued from the processing of sedimentary raw phosphates. The results are: Turnu Magurele - Ce (ppm) - (29,1-663,1); Er (ppm) - (0,9-11,7); La (ppm) - (22,7-469,0); Nd (ppm) - (21,1-260-5); Th (ppm) - (0,3-20,8); Yb (ppm) - (1,1-6,8). Valea Calugareasca - Ce (ppm) - (30,2-454,2; Er (ppm) - (0,8-7,3); La (ppm) - (35,7-322,5); Nd (ppm) - (22,3-188,2); Th (ppm) - (0,0-12,8); Yb (ppm) - (1,6-5,0). Navodari - Ce (ppm) - (3,9-165,0); Er (ppm) - (1,8-7,7); La (ppm) - (14,5-135,6); Nd (ppm) - (3,8-90,6); Th (ppm) - (0,8-6,5); Yb (ppm) - (1,8-6,1). Bacau - Ce (ppm) - (19,3-174,8); Er (ppm) - 13,1-18,8); La (ppm) - (36,2-134,2); Nd (ppm) - (24,5-104,5); Th (ppm) (1,7-5,2); Yb (ppm) - (1,9-6,6).

Geochemical variations of rare earth elements in Marcellus shale flowback waters and multiple-source cores in the Appalachian Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noack, C.; Jain, J.; Hakala, A.; Schroeder, K.; Dzombak, D. A.; Karamalidis, A.

2013-12-01

Rare earth elements (REE) - encompassing the naturally occurring lanthanides, yttrium, and scandium - are potential tracers for subsurface groundwater-brine flows and geochemical processes. Application of these elements as naturally occurring tracers during shale gas development is reliant on accurate quantitation of trace metals in hypersaline brines. We have modified and validated a liquid-liquid technique for extraction and pre-concentration of REE from saline produced waters from shale gas extraction wells with quantitative analysis by ICP-MS. This method was used to analyze time-series samples of Marcellus shale flowback and produced waters. Additionally, the total REE content of core samples of various strata throughout the Appalachian Basin were determined using HF/HNO3 digestion and ICP-MS analysis. A primary goal of the study is to elucidate systematic geochemical variations as a function of location or shale characteristics. Statistical testing will be performed to study temporal variability of inter-element relationships and explore associations between REE abundance and major solution chemistry. The results of these analyses and discussion of their significance will be presented.

[Experimental study and correction of the absorption and enhancement effect between Ti, V and Fe].

PubMed

Tuo, Xian-Guo; Mu, Ke-Liang; Li, Zhe; Wang, Hong-Hui; Luo, Hui; Yang, Jian-Bo

2009-11-01

The absorption and enhancement effects in X-ray fluorescence analysis for Ti, V and Fe elements were studied in the present paper. Three bogus duality systems of Ti-V/Ti-Fe/V-Fe samples were confected and measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis technique using HPGe semiconductor detector, and the relation curve between unitary coefficient (R(K)) of element count rate and element content (W(K)) were obtained after the experiment. Having analyzed the degree of absorption and enhancement effect between every two elements, the authors get the result, and that is the absorption and enhancement effect between Ti and V is relatively distinctness, while it's not so distinctness in Ti-Fe and V-Fe. After that, a mathematics correction method of exponential fitting was used to fit the R(K)-W(K) curve and get a function equation of X-ray fluorescence count rate and content. Three groups of Ti-V duality samples were used to test the fitting method and the relative errors of Ti and V were less than 0.2% as compared to the actual results.

Origin discrimination of defatted pork via trace elements profiling, stable isotope ratios analysis, and multivariate statistical techniques.

PubMed

Park, Yu Min; Lee, Cheong Mi; Hong, Joon Ho; Jamila, Nargis; Khan, Naeem; Jung, Jong-Hyun; Jung, Young-Chul; Kim, Kyong Su

2018-09-01

This study verified the origin of 346 defatted Korean and non-Korean pork samples via trace elements profiling, and C and N stable isotope ratios analysis. The analyzed elements were 6 Li, 7 Li, 10 B, 11 B, 51 V , 50 Cr, 52 Cr, 53 Cr, 55 Mn, 58 Ni, 60 Ni, 59 Co, 63 Cu, 65 Cu, 64 Zn, 66 Zn, 69 Ga, 71 Ga, 75 As, 82 Se, 84 Sr, 86 Sr, 87 Sr, 88 Sr, 85 Rb, 94 Mo, 95 Mo, 97 Mo, 107 Ag, 109 Ag, 110 Cd, 111 Cd, 113 Cd, 112 Cd, 114 Cd, 116 Cd, 133 Cs, 206 Pb, 207 Pb, and 208 Pb. Content (mg/kg) of 51 V (0.012), 50 Cr (0.882), 75 As (0.017), 85 Rb (57.7), and 87 Sr (46.3) were high in Korean pork samples whereas 6 Li, 7 Li, 59 Co, 55 Mn, 58 Ni, 84 Sr, 86 Sr, 88 Sr, 111 Cd, and 133 Cs were found higher in non-Korean samples. The results of discriminant analysis showed that the trace elements content and stable isotope ratios were significant for the discrimination of geographical origins with a perfect discrimination rate of 100%. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The use of olive tree (Olea europaea L.) leaves as a bioindicator for environmental pollution in the Province of Aydın, Turkey.

PubMed

Turan, Dilek; Kocahakimoglu, Cemre; Kavcar, Pınar; Gaygısız, Handan; Atatanir, Levent; Turgut, Cafer; Sofuoglu, Sait C

2011-03-01

In this study, olive tree leaves, collected from 50 sampling sites throughout the Province of Aydın, Turkey, were used to estimate level of pollution by measuring Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn concentrations and calculating pollution factor (PF) values. After sample preparation, collected leaves were microwave digested, and extracts were analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The maximum PF values were ≥10 for a number of elements ranging from 11-13 (Al, As, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni) to >100 for Cu, Li, and Na. Urban-rural and roadside-nonroadside concentration comparisons showed that some of the elements (As, Cu, and Pb) were at significantly higher levels on urban and/or roadside sampling sites. Correlations and factor analysis showed that there may be common sources for some elements, which included several soil types and anthropogenic activities. Based on the results of the statistical source apportionment, possible sources were narrowed down with help of the constructed elemental concentration maps. In conclusion, utilization of olive tree leaves for biomonitoring and assessment of environmental pollution was shown to be possible in the Mediterranean region where they are indigenous and cultivated.

Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data (October 1993 through September 1994) and statistical summaries of data for streams in the Upper Clark Fork basin, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lambing, J.H.; Hornberger, Michelle I.; Axtmann, E.V.; Dodge, K.A.

1995-01-01

Water, bed sediment, and biota were sampled in streams from Butte to below Missoula as part of a program to characterize aquatic resources in the upper Clark Fork basin of western Montana. Water- quality data were obtained periodically at 16 stations during October 1993 through September 1994 (water year 1994); daily suspended-sediment data were obtained at six of these stations. Bed-sediment and biological data were obtained at 11 stations in August 1994. Sampling stations were located on the Clark Fork and major tributaries. The primary constituents analyzed were trace elements associated with mine tailings from historical mining and smelting activities. Water-quality data include concentrations of major ions, trace elements, and suspended sediment in samples collected periodically during water year 1994. Daily values of streamflow, suspended-sediment concentration, and suspended- sediment discharge are given for six stations. Bed- sediment data include trace-element concentrations in the fine and bulk fractions. Biological data include trace-element concentrations in whole-body tissue of aquatic benthic insects. Quality-assurance data are reported for analytical results of water, bed sediment, and biota. Statistical summaries of bed sediment, and biological data are provided for the period of record at each station since 1985.

A study of trace element contamination using multivariate statistical techniques and health risk assessment in groundwater of Chhaprola Industrial Area, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.

PubMed

Kumar, Manoj; Ramanathan, A L; Tripathi, Ritu; Farswan, Sandhya; Kumar, Devendra; Bhattacharya, Prosun

2017-01-01

This study is an investigation on spatio-chemical, contamination sources (using multivariate statistics), and health risk assessment arising from the consumption of groundwater contaminated with trace and toxic elements in the Chhaprola Industrial Area, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. In this study 33 tubewell water samples were analyzed for 28 elements using ICP-OES. Concentration of some trace and toxic elements such as Al, As, B, Cd, Cr, Mn, Pb and U exceeded their corresponding WHO (2011) guidelines and BIS (2012) standards while the other analyzed elements remain below than those values. Background γ and β radiation levels were observed and found to be within their acceptable limits. Multivariate statistics PCA (explains 82.07 cumulative percent for total 6 of factors) and CA indicated (mixed origin) that natural and anthropogenic activities like industrial effluent and agricultural runoff are responsible for the degrading of groundwater quality in the research area. In this study area, an adult consumes 3.0 L (median value) of water therefore consuming 39, 1.94, 1461, 0.14, 11.1, 292.6, 13.6, 23.5 μg of Al, As, B, Cd, Cr, Mn, Pb and U from drinking water per day respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) value exceeded the safe limit of 1 which for As, B, Al, Cr, Mn, Cd, Pb and U at few locations while hazard index (HI) > 5 was observed in about 30% of the samples which indicated potential health risk from these tubewells for the local population if the groundwater is consumed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mercury content of Illinois soils

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dreher, G.B.; Follmer, L.R.

2004-01-01

For a survey of Illinois soils, 101 cores had been collected and analyzed to determine the current and background elemental compositions of Illinois soils. Mercury and other elements were determined in six samples per core, including a surface sample from each core. The mean mercury content in the surface samples was 33 ?? 20 ??g/kg soil, and the background content was 20 ?? 9 ??g/kg. The most probable sources of mercury in these soils were the parent material, and wet and dry deposition of Hg0 and Hg2+ derived from coal-burning power plants, other industrial plants, and medical and municipal waste incinerators. Mercury-bearing sewage sludge or other fertilizers applied to agricultural fields could have been the local sources of mercury. Although the mercury content correlated with organic carbon content or clay content in individual cores, when all the data were considered, there was no strong correlation between mercury and either the organic carbon or the clay-size content.

Whole-rock analyses of core samples from the 1988 drilling of Kilauea Iki lava lake, Hawaii

USGS Publications Warehouse

Helz, Rosalind Tuthill; Taggart, Joseph E.

2010-01-01

This report presents and evaluates 64 major-element analyses of previously unanalyzed Kilauea Iki drill core, plus three samples from the 1959 and 1960 eruptions of Kilauea, obtained by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis during the period 1992 to 1995. All earlier major-element analyses of Kilauea Iki core, obtained by classical (gravimetric) analysis, were reported and evaluated in Helz and others (1994). In order to assess how well the newer data compare with this earlier suite of analyses, a subset of 24 samples, which had been analyzed by classical analysis, was reanalyzed using the XRF technique; those results are presented and evaluated in this report also. The XRF analyses have not been published previously. This report also provides an overview of how the chemical variations observed in these new data fit in with the chemical zonation patterns and petrologic processes inferred in earlier studies of Kilauea Iki.

Assessment of nonpoint source chemical loading potential to watersheds containing uranium waste dumps and human health hazards associated with uranium exploration and mining, Red, White, and Fry Canyons, southeastern Utah, 2007

USGS Publications Warehouse

Beisner, Kimberly R.; Marston, Thomas M.; Naftz, David L.; Snyder, Terry; Freeman, Michael L.

2010-01-01

During May, June, and July 2007, 58 solid-phase samples were collected from abandoned uranium mine waste dumps, background sites, and adjacent streambeds in Red, White, and Fry Canyons in southeastern Utah. The objectives of this sampling program were to (1) assess the nonpoint-source chemical loading potential to ephemeral and perennial drainage basins from uranium waste dumps and (2) assess potential effects on human health due to recreational activities on and around uranium waste dumps on Bureau of Land Management property. Uranium waste-dump samples were collected using solid-phase sampling protocols. After collection, solid-phase samples were homogenized and extracted in the laboratory using a leaching procedure. Filtered (0.45 micron) water samples were obtained from the field leaching procedure and were analyzed for major and trace elements at the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Metals Analysis Laboratory at the University of Utah. A subset of the solid-phase samples also were digested with strong acids and analyzed for major ions and trace elements at the U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Division Laboratory in Denver, Colorado. For the initial ranking of chemical loading potential for uranium waste dumps, results of leachate analyses were compared with existing aquatic-life and drinking-water-quality standards. To assess potential effects on human health, solid-phase digestion values for uranium were compared to soil screening levels (SSL) computed using the computer model RESRAD 6.5 for a probable concentration of radium. One or more chemical constituents exceeded aquatic life and drinking-water-quality standards in approximately 64 percent (29/45) of the leachate samples extracted from uranium waste dumps. Most of the uranium waste dump sites with elevated trace-element concentrations in leachates were located in Red Canyon. Approximately 69 percent (31/45) of the strong acid digestible soil concentration values were greater than a calculated SSL. Uranium waste dump sites with elevated leachate and total digestible concentrations may need to be further investigated to determine the most appropriate remediation method.

Assessment of the effects of air pollution on european monuments through a geochemical characterization of black crusts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Comite, Valeria; Barca, Donatella; Belfiore, Cristina Maria; Bonazza, Alessandra; La Russa, Mauro Francesco; Ruffolo, SIlvestro Antonio; Pezzino, Antonino; Sabbioni, Cristina

2014-05-01

This contribution focuses on spectrometric analyses carried out on black crust samples, collected from buildings and churches belonging to the European built Heritage, i.e., the Corner Palace in Venice (Italy), the Cathedral of St. Rombouts in Mechelen (Belgium), the Church of St. Eustache in Paris (France) and the Tower of London (United Kingdom). Such monuments, all built in carbonate stones, were selected for their historic and artistic relevance, as well as for their location in different urban environments. For an exhaustive account of the sampled black crusts, an approach integrating complementary techniques was used, including OM, SEM-EDS, FT-IR and LA-ICP-MS. The complete characterization of the damage layers provided information on their chemical composition, the state of conservation of the underlying substrates and the interactions between crusts and stones. In particular, the geochemical study in terms of trace elements revealed that all crusts are enriched in heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti, V, and Zn) compared to substrates. The different concentrations of such elements in all analyzed crust samples can be ascribed to several factors, such as: height of sampling, morphology of the sampled surfaces (vertical or horizontal), exposure to atmospheric agents as well as to direct (road or boat traffic) or indirect (industries) sources of pollution, accumulation time of pollutants on the surface, wash out and particulate air pollution. Specifically, the crusts collected at lower heights (Corner Palace, Cathedral of St. Rombouts, Tower of London) resulted to be mainly influenced by mobile sources of pollution (vehicular or boat traffic), while samples taken at higher heights (Church of St. Eustache and Corner Palace) are generally mostly affected by stationary combustion sources. In some cases, the detailed analysis of multilayered crusts (Palazzo Corner) contributed to recognize the variation of combustion sources responsible for the deterioration of surfaces over time. In addition, the possibility of analyzing altered portions of the substrate (Tower of London) permitted to observe that some elements (Zn, Cu and Ni) show concentrations similar and, sometimes, higher than the overlying crusts. This result can be explained by the geochemical mobility of such elements (at specific environmental conditions), which accelerate the process of sulfating, rapidly promoting the formation of new layers of crust. In conclusion, the study of black crusts and altered substrates in terms of trace elements may provide information useful to understand the influence of the pollutants in the genesis of such degradation forms.

Characterization and forensic analysis of soil samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

PubMed

Jantzi, Sarah C; Almirall, José R

2011-07-01

A method for the quantitative elemental analysis of surface soil samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was developed and applied to the analysis of bulk soil samples for discrimination between specimens. The use of a 266 nm laser for LIBS analysis is reported for the first time in forensic soil analysis. Optimization of the LIBS method is discussed, and the results compared favorably to a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) method previously developed. Precision for both methods was <10% for most elements. LIBS limits of detection were <33 ppm and bias <40% for most elements. In a proof of principle study, the LIBS method successfully discriminated samples from two different sites in Dade County, FL. Analysis of variance, Tukey's post hoc test and Student's t test resulted in 100% discrimination with no type I or type II errors. Principal components analysis (PCA) resulted in clear groupings of the two sites. A correct classification rate of 99.4% was obtained with linear discriminant analysis using leave-one-out validation. Similar results were obtained when the same samples were analyzed by LA-ICP-MS, showing that LIBS can provide similar information to LA-ICP-MS. In a forensic sampling/spatial heterogeneity study, the variation between sites, between sub-plots, between samples and within samples was examined on three similar Dade sites. The closer the sampling locations, the closer the grouping on a PCA plot and the higher the misclassification rate. These results underscore the importance of careful sampling for geographic site characterization.

Water-quality and bottom-material characteristics of Cross Lake, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, 1997-99

USGS Publications Warehouse

McGee, Benton D.

2004-01-01

Cross Lake is a shallow, monomictic lake that was formed in 1926 by the impoundment of Cross Bayou. The lake is the primary drinking-water supply for the City of Shreveport, Louisiana. In recent years, the lakeshore has become increasinginly urbanized. In addition, the land use of the watershed contributing runoff to Cross Lake has changed. Changes in land use and urbanization could affect the water chemistry and biology of the Lake. Water-quality data were collected at 10 sites on Cross Lake from February 1997 to February 1999. Water-column and bottom-material samples were collected. The water-column samples were collected at least four times per year. These samples included physical and chemical-related properties such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance; selected major inorganic ions; nutrients; minor elements; organic chemical constituents; and bacteria. Suspended-sediment samples were collected seven times during the sampling period. The bottom-material samples, which were collected once during the sampling period, were analyzed for selected minor elements and inorganic carbon. Aside from the nutrient-enriched condition of Cross Lake, the overall water-quality of Cross Lake is good. No primary Federal or State water-quality criteria were exceeded by any of the water-quality constituents analyzed for this report. Concentrations of major inorganic constituents, except iron and manganese, were low. Water from the lake is a sodium-bicarbonate type and is soft. Minor elements and organic compounds were present in low concentrations, many below detection limits. Nitrogen and phosphorus were the nutrients occurring in the highest concentrations. Nutrients were evenly distributed across the lake with no particular water-quality site indicating consistently higher or lower nutrient concentrations. No water samples analyzed for nitrate exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 milligrams per liter. Based on nitrogen to phosphorus ratios calculated for Cross Lake, median values for all water-quality sites were within the nitrogen-limited range (less than or equal to 5). Historical Trophic State Indexes for Cross Lake classified the lake as eutrophic. Recent (1998-99) Trophic State Indexes classify Cross Lake as mesotrophic-eutrophic, which might indicate a recution in eutrophication. Sedimentation traps indicate that Cross Lake is filling at an average rate of 0.41 inches per year. Concentrations of fecal-coliform and streptococci bacteria generally were low. Fecal coliform was detected in higher concentrations than fecal streptococci. High bacterial concentrations were measured shortly after rainfall-runoff events, possibly washing bacteria from surrounding areas into the lake.

Plutonium oxalate precipitation for trace elemental determination in plutonium materials

DOE PAGES

Xu, Ning; Gallimore, David; Lujan, Elmer; ...

2015-05-26

In this study, an analytical chemistry method has been developed that removes the plutonium (Pu) matrix from the dissolved Pu metal or oxide solution prior to the determination of trace impurities that are present in the metal or oxide. In this study, a Pu oxalate approach was employed to separate Pu from trace impurities. After Pu(III) was precipitated with oxalic acid and separated by centrifugation, trace elemental constituents in the supernatant were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy with minimized spectral interferences from the sample matrix.

Study of the lithology, petrology and rock chemistry for the Pyramid Mountains, New Mexico

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, S. K.

1985-01-01

Rock and soil samples were collected at 24 sites within the Pyramid Mountains of southwestern New Mexico. The site locations are specified as 10-acre plots within the Section, Township, and Range land survey system. Hand specimen are described. The specimen were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence. The technique is designed to obtain good analysis for silica. The other elements are run so that matrix factor logic can be used to adjust the silica intensities, and to compensate for the element interaction.

Biological half-life of gaseous elemental iodine deposited onto rice grains

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Uchida, S.; Muramatsu, Y.; Sumiya, M.

In order to obtain the biological half-life (Tb) of iodine deposited on rough rice grains, rice plants of four different growing stages--heading, milky, dough, and yellow ripe--were exposed to elemental gaseous iodine. After the exposure, the rough rice samples were collected at different intervals and analyzed for iodine to estimate the value of Tb. The average value of Tb obtained by the experiments at the dough and yellow ripe stages was about 200 d. This value is considerably larger than those for pasture grass and leafy vegetables.

Rapid Elemental Analysis and Provenance Study of Blumea balsamifera DC Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Liu, Xiaona; Zhang, Qiao; Wu, Zhisheng; Shi, Xinyuan; Zhao, Na; Qiao, Yanjiang

2015-01-01

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied to perform a rapid elemental analysis and provenance study of Blumea balsamifera DC. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were implemented to exploit the multivariate nature of the LIBS data. Scores and loadings of computed principal components visually illustrated the differing spectral data. The PLS-DA algorithm showed good classification performance. The PLS-DA model using complete spectra as input variables had similar discrimination performance to using selected spectral lines as input variables. The down-selection of spectral lines was specifically focused on the major elements of B. balsamifera samples. Results indicated that LIBS could be used to rapidly analyze elements and to perform provenance study of B. balsamifera. PMID:25558999

SXRF determination of trace elements in chondrule rims in the unequilibrated CO3 chondrite, ALH A77307

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brearley, Adrian J.; Bajt, Sasa; Sutton, Steve R.; Papike, J. J.

1993-01-01

The concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, and Se in five chondrule rims in the CO3 chondrite ALH A77307 (3.0) using the synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (SXRF) microprobe at Brookhaven National Laboratory were determined. The data show that the trace element chemistry of rims on different chondrules is remarkably similar, consistent with data obtained for the major elements by electron microprobe. These results support the idea that rims are not genetically related to individual chondrules, but all sampled the same reservoir of homogeneously mixed dust. Of the trace elements analyzed Zn and Ga show depletions relative to CI chondrite values, but in comparison with bulk CO chondrites all the elements are enriched by approximately 1.5 to 3.5 x CO. The high concentrations of the highly volatile elements Se and Ga and moderately volatile Zn (1.5 to 2 x CO) in rims show that matrix is the major reservoir of volatile elements in ALH A77307.

Trace element levels and cognitive function in rural elderly Chinese.

PubMed

Gao, Sujuan; Jin, Yinlong; Unverzagt, Frederick W; Ma, Feng; Hall, Kathleen S; Murrell, Jill R; Cheng, Yibin; Shen, Jianzhao; Ying, Bo; Ji, Rongdi; Matesan, Janetta; Liang, Chaoke; Hendrie, Hugh C

2008-06-01

Trace elements are involved in metabolic processes and oxidation-reduction reactions in the central nervous system and could have a possible effect on cognitive function. The relationship between trace elements measured in individual biological samples and cognitive function in an elderly population had not been investigated extensively. The participant population is part of a large cohort study of 2000 rural elderly Chinese persons. Six cognitive assessment tests were used to evaluate cognitive function in this population, and a composite score was created to represent global cognitive function. Trace element levels of aluminum, calcium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, and zinc were analyzed in plasma samples of 188 individuals who were randomly selected and consented to donating fasting blood. Analysis of covariance models were used to assess the association between each trace element and the composite cognitive score adjusting for demographics, medical history of chronic diseases, and the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Three trace elements-calcium, cadmium, and copper-were found to be significantly related to the composite cognitive score. Increasing plasma calcium level was associated with higher cognitive score (p <.0001). Increasing cadmium and copper, in contrast, were significantly associated with lower composite score (p =.0044 and p =.0121, respectively). Other trace elements did not show significant association with the composite cognitive score. Our results suggest that calcium, cadmium, and copper may be associated with cognitive function in the elderly population.

Atmospheric wet deposition of trace elements to a suburban environment, Reston, Virginia, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Conko, Kathryn M.; Rice, Karen C.; Kennedy, Margaret M.

2004-01-01

Wet deposition from a suburban area in Reston, Virginia was collected during 1998 and analyzed to assess the anion and trace-element concentrations and depositions. Suburban Reston, approximately 26 km west of Washington, DC, is densely populated and heavily developed. Wet deposition was collected bi-weekly in an automated collector using trace-element clean sampling and analytical techniques. The annual volume-weighted concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb were similar to those previously reported for a remote site on Catoctin Mt., Maryland (70 km northwest), which indicated a regional signal for these elements. The concentrations and depositions of Cu and Zn at the suburban site were nearly double those at remote sites because of the influence of local vehicular traffic. The 1998 average annual wet deposition (μg m−2 yr−1) was calculated for Al (52,000), As (94), Cd (54), Cr (160), Cu (700), Fe (23,000), Mn (2000), Ni (240), Pb (440), V (430), and Zn (4100). The average annual wet deposition (meq m−2 yr−1) was calculated for H+ (74), Cl− (8.5), NO3− (33), and SO42− (70). Analysis of digested total trace-element concentrations in a subset of samples showed that the refractory elements in suburban precipitation comprised a larger portion of the total deposition of trace elements than in remote areas.

Characterization of a Polymer Composite Section of Foreign Armor

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-03-01

Core Sample 8 6. ESEM From Owens - Corning S-2 Glass Reference 10 7. ESEM From Owens-Coming E Glass Reference 11 8. ESEM From Known Russian S...light element energy dispersive spectrometer. Samples of domestic Owens - Corning E and S-2 glass fibers were first analyzed for reference purposes...for comparison to the unknown Russian armor fiber. The two domestic reference fibers were Owens - Corning E and S-2 glass. Their spectra are shown in

Comparison of two confocal micro-XRF spectrometers with different design aspects

PubMed Central

Smolek, S; Nakazawa, T; Tabe, A; Nakano, K; Tsuji, K; Streli, C; Wobrauschek, P

2014-01-01

Two different confocal micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometers have been developed and installed at Osaka City University and the Vienna University of Technology Atominstitut. The Osaka City University system is a high resolution spectrometer operating in air. The Vienna University of Technology Atominstitut spectrometer has a lower spatial resolution but is optimized for light element detection and operates under vacuum condition. The performance of both spectrometers was compared. In order to characterize the spatial resolution, a set of nine specially prepared single element thin film reference samples (500 nm in thickness, Al, Ti, Cr, Fe Ni, Cu, Zr, Mo, and Au) was used. Lower limits of detection were determined using the National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference material glass standard 1412. A paint layer sample (cultural heritage application) and paint on automotive steel samples were analyzed with both instruments. The depth profile information was acquired by scanning the sample perpendicular to the surface. © 2013 The Authors. X-Ray Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID:26430286

Comparison of two confocal micro-XRF spectrometers with different design aspects.

PubMed

Smolek, S; Nakazawa, T; Tabe, A; Nakano, K; Tsuji, K; Streli, C; Wobrauschek, P

2014-03-01

Two different confocal micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometers have been developed and installed at Osaka City University and the Vienna University of Technology Atominstitut. The Osaka City University system is a high resolution spectrometer operating in air. The Vienna University of Technology Atominstitut spectrometer has a lower spatial resolution but is optimized for light element detection and operates under vacuum condition. The performance of both spectrometers was compared. In order to characterize the spatial resolution, a set of nine specially prepared single element thin film reference samples (500 nm in thickness, Al, Ti, Cr, Fe Ni, Cu, Zr, Mo, and Au) was used. Lower limits of detection were determined using the National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference material glass standard 1412. A paint layer sample (cultural heritage application) and paint on automotive steel samples were analyzed with both instruments. The depth profile information was acquired by scanning the sample perpendicular to the surface. © 2013 The Authors. X-Ray Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparison of the morphology, chemical composition and microstructure of cryptocrystalline graphite and carbon black

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quan, Ying; Liu, Qinfu; Zhang, Shilong; Zhang, Shuai

2018-07-01

The structures of cryptocrystalline graphite (CG) and carbon black (CB) have been analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), organic elemental analysis (OEA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), RAMAN and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). These results indicate that CG has the same elemental composition as CB, with carbon being the major element present. SL sample (CG with low graphitization degree) and CB exhibit similar microcrystalline structures. CG was shown to contain a layered graphitic structure that was significantly different to the primary spherical particles present in CB. It is proposed that these CG sheets may potentially be reduced and delaminated to afford multilayer graphene structures with improved material properties.

Analysis of coke beverages by total-reflection X-ray fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández-Ruiz, Ramón; von Bohlen, Alex; Friedrich K, E. Josue; Redrejo, M. J.

2018-07-01

The influence of the organic content, sample preparation process and the morphology of the depositions of two types of Coke beverage, traditional and light Coke, have been investigated by mean of Total-reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry. Strong distortions of the nominal concentration values, up to 128% for P, have been detected in the analysis of traditional Coke by different preparation methods. These differences have been correlated with the edge X-ray energies of the elements analyzed being more pronounced for the lighter elements. The influence of the organic content (mainly sugar) was evaluated comparing traditional and light Coke analytical TXRF results. Three sample preparation methods have been evaluated as follows: direct TXRF analysis of the sample only adding internal standard, TXRF analysis after open vessel acid digestion and TXRF analysis after high pressure and temperature microwave-assisted acid digestion. Strong correlations were detected between quantitative results, methods of preparation and energies of the X-ray absorption edges of quantified elements. In this way, a decay behavior for the concentration differences between preparation methods and the energies of the X-ray absorption edges of each element were observed. The observed behaviors were modeled with exponential decay functions obtaining R2 correlation coefficients from 0.989 to 0.992. The strong absorption effect observed, and even possible matrix effect, can be explained by the inherent high organic content of the evaluated samples and also by the morphology and average thickness of the TXRF depositions observed. As main conclusion of this work, the analysis of light elements in samples with high organic content by TXRF, i.e. medical, biological, food or any other organic matrixes should be taken carefully. In any case, the direct analysis is not recommended and a previous microwave-assisted acid digestion, or similar, is mandatory, for the correct elemental quantification by TXRF.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Godoi, R. H.M.; Barbosa, C. G.G.; Kurzlop, P.

Because of their proven adverse effects on human health and vegetation, and also considering their influence over the local and regional climate, inhalable fine particles (PM2.5) and NO 2, SO 2, and O 3 have been collected at the ARM site located in Manacapuru, Amazon, Brazil, as a part of the GoAmazon 2014/5 project. PM2.5 samples were analyzed through gravimetry, black carbon transmittance, elemental composition by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence, and ionic concentration (cations) by ion chromatography. NO 2 and SO 2 samples were analyzed by ion chromatography, whereas O3 samples were analyzed through ultraviolet-vis spectrophotometry. Sampling of both particulatemore » and gaseous pollutants took place during the two intensive operation periods (IOP1 from February to March 2014, and IOP2 from August to October 2014). Results are interpreted both separately and as a whole with the specific goal of identifying compounds that could affect the population’s health and/or could act as cloud condensation nuclei. Chemical analysis supports the elucidation of the possible origins, transport mechanisms, health effects, and main effects of the assessed pollutants in those environments« less

A Comparison of Learning Cultures in Different Sizes and Types

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Paula D.; Finch, Kim S.; MacGregor, Cynthia

2012-01-01

This study compared relevant data and information about leadership and learning cultures in different sizes and types of high schools. Research was conducted using a quantitative design with a qualitative element. Quantitative data were gathered using a researcher-created survey. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to analyze the means of…

Chemical composition of samples collected from waste rock dumps and other mining-related features at selected phosphate mines in southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and northern Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Moyle, Phillip R.; Causey, J. Douglas

2001-01-01

This report provides chemical analyses for 31 samples collected from various phosphate mine sites in southeastern Idaho (25), northern Utah (2), and western Wyoming (4). The sampling effort was undertaken as a reconnaissance and does not constitute a characterization of mine wastes. Twenty-five samples were collected from waste rock dumps, 2 from stockpiles, and 1 each from slag, tailings, mill shale, and an outcrop. All samples were analyzed for a suite of major, minor, and trace elements. Although the analytical data set for the 31 samples is too small for detailed statistical analysis, a summary of general observations is made.

Feasibility of real-time geochemical analysis using LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) in oil wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahin, Mohamed

2014-05-01

The oil and gas industry has attempted for many years to find new ways to analyze and determine the type of rocks drilled on a real time basis. Mud analysis logging is a direct method of detecting oil and gas in formations drilled, it depends on the "feel" of the bit to decide formation type, as well as, geochemical analysis which was introduced 30 years ago, starting with a pulsed-neutron generator (PNG) based wireline tool upon which LWD technology was based. In this paper, we are studying the feasibility of introducing a new technology for real-time geochemical analysis. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a type of atomic emission spectroscopy, It is a cutting-edge technology that is used for many applications such as determination of alloy composition, origin of manufacture (by monitoring trace components), and molecular analysis (unknown identification). LIBS can analyze any material regardless of its state (solid, liquid or gas), based upon that fact, we can analyze rocks, formation fluids' types and contacts between them. In cooperation with the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo University in Egypt, we've done tests on sandstone, limestone and coal samples acquired from different places using Nd: YAG Laser with in addition to other components that are explained in details through this paper to understand the ability of Laser to analyze rock samples and provide their elemental composition using LIBS technique. We've got promising results from the sample analysis via LIBS and discussed the possibility of deploying this technology in oilfields suggesting many applications and giving a base for achieving a quantitative elemental analysis method in view of its shortcomings and solutions.

Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry in connection with a chromatographic separation for ultra trace determinations of platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Ru, Ir) in environmental samples.

PubMed

Müller, M; Heumann, K G

2000-09-01

An isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometric (ID-ICP-QMS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the platinum group elements Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ir in environmental samples. Spike solutions, enriched with the isotopes 194Pt, 108Pd, 99Ru, and 191Ir, were used for the isotope dilution step. Interfering elements were eliminated by chromatographic separation using an anion-exchange resin. Samples were dissolved with aqua regia in a high pressure asher. Additional dissolution of possible silicate portions by hydrofluoric acid was usually not necessary. Detection limits of 0.15 ng x g(-1), 0.075 ng x g(-1), and 0.015 ng x g(-1) were achieved for Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ir, respectively, using sample weights of only 0.2 g. The reliability of the ID-ICP-QMS method was demonstrated by analyzing a Canadian geological reference material and by participating in an interlaboratory study for the determination of platinum and palladium in a homogenized road dust sample. Surface soil, sampled at different distances from a highway, showed concentrations in the range of 0.1-87 ng x g(-1). An exponential decrease of the platinum and palladium concentration with increasing distance and a small anthropogenic contribution to the natural background concentration of ruthenium and iridium was found in these samples.

TRANSPORT AND FATE OF AMMONIUM AND ITS IMPACT ON URANIUM AND OTHER TRACE ELEMENTS AT A FORMER URANIUM MILL TAILING SITE

PubMed Central

Miao, Ziheng; Nihat, Hakan; McMillan, Andrew Lee; Brusseau, Mark L.

2013-01-01

The remediation of ammonium-containing groundwater discharged from uranium mill tailing sites is a difficult problem facing the mining industry. The Monument Valley site is a former uranium mining site in the southwest US with both ammonium and nitrate contamination of groundwater. In this study, samples collected from 14 selected wells were analyzed for major cations and anions, trace elements, and isotopic composition of ammonium and nitrate. In addition, geochemical data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) database were analyzed. Results showing oxic redox conditions and correspondence of isotopic compositions of ammonium and nitrate confirmed the natural attenuation of ammonium via nitrification. Moreover, it was observed that ammonium concentration within the plume area is closely related to concentrations of uranium and a series of other trace elements including chromium, selenium, vanadium, iron, and manganese. It is hypothesized that ammonium-nitrate transformation processes influence the disposition of the trace elements through mediation of redox potential, pH, and possibly aqueous complexation and solid-phase sorption. Despite the generally relatively low concentrations of trace elements present in groundwater, their transport and fate may be influenced by remediation of ammonium or nitrate at the site. PMID:24357895

Determination of elemental composition of substance lost following wear of all-ceramic materials.

PubMed

Dündar, Mine; Artunç, Celal; Toksavul, Suna; Ozmen, Dilek; Turgan, Nevbahar

2003-01-01

The aim of this study was to test the possible elemental release of four different all-ceramic materials in a wear machine to predict results about their long-term behavior in the oral environment. Four different all-ceramic materials with different chemical compositions were selected for the wear testing. A total of 20 cylindric samples, five for each ceramic group, were prepared according to the manufacturers' instructions. These were subjected to two-body wear testing in an artificial saliva medium under a covered unit with a computer-operated wear machine. The artificial saliva solutions for each material were analyzed for the determination of amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and lithium elements released from the glass-ceramic materials. The differences between and within groups were statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA, followed by Duncan tests. The statistical analyses revealed no significant differences among Na, K, Ca, or Mg levels (P > .05) released from the leucite-reinforced groups, while there was a significant (P < .05) increase in Li release from the lithium disilicate group. Considerable element release to the artifical saliva medium was demonstrated in short-term wear testing. The lithia-based ceramic was more prone to Li release when compared with other elements and materials.

Major, minor, trace and rare earth elements in sediments of the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau.

PubMed

Carvalho, Lina; Figueira, Paula; Monteiro, Rui; Reis, Ana Teresa; Almeida, Joana; Catry, Teresa; Lourenço, Pedro Miguel; Catry, Paulo; Barbosa, Castro; Catry, Inês; Pereira, Eduarda; Granadeiro, José Pedro; Vale, Carlos

2018-04-01

Sixty sediment samples from four sites in the Bijagós archipelago were characterized for fine fraction, loss on ignition, major, minor and trace elemental composition (Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, P, Zr, Mn, Cr, Sr, Ba, B, V, Li, Zn, Ni, Pb, As, Co, U, Cu, Cs and Cd), and the elements of the La-Lu series. Element concentrations were largely explained by the Al content and the proportion of fine fraction content, with the exception of Ca and Sr. Sediments showed enhanced Ti, U, Cr, As and Cd concentrations with respect to estimated upper crust values, most likely mirroring a regional signature. Rare earth elements were in deficit relatively to the North American Shale Composite (NASC), mainly in coarser material. No pronounced Ce-anomaly was observed, while Eu-anomalies were positive in most analyzed sediments. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gases and trace elements in soils at the North Silver Bell deposit, Pima County, Arizona

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hinkle, M.E.; Dilbert, C.A.

1984-01-01

Soil samples were collected over the North Silver Bell porphyry copper deposit near Tucson, Arizona. Volatile elements and compounds in gases derived from the soils and metallic elements in the soils were analyzed in order: (1) to see which volatile constituents of the soils might be indicative of the ore body or the alteration zones; and (2) to distinguish the ore and alteration zones by comparison of trace elements in the soil. Plots of analytical data on trace elements in soils indicated a typical distribution pattern for metals around a porphyry copper deposit, with copper, molybdenum, and arsenic concentrations higher over the ore body, and zinc, lead, and silver concentrations higher over the alteration zones. Higher than average concentrations of helium, carbon disulfide, and sulfur dioxide adsorbed on soils were found over the ore body, whereas higher concentrations of carbon dioxide and carbonyl sulfide were found over the alteration zones. ?? 1984.

Elemental profiling of laser cladded multilayer coatings by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lednev, V. N.; Sdvizhenskii, P. A.; Filippov, M. N.; Grishin, M. Ya.; Filichkina, V. A.; Stavertiy, A. Ya.; Tretyakov, R. S.; Bunkin, A. F.; Pershin, S. M.

2017-09-01

Multilayer tungsten carbide wear resistant coatings were analyzed by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Coaxial laser cladding technique was utilized to produce tungsten carbide coating deposited on low alloy steel substrate with additional inconel 625 interlayer. EDX and LIBS techniques were used for elemental profiling of major components (Ni, W, C, Fe, etc.) in the coating. A good correlation between EDX and LIBS data was observed while LIBS provided additional information on light element distribution (carbon). A non-uniform distribution of tungsten carbide grains along coating depth was detected by both LIBS and EDX. In contrast, horizontal elemental profiling showed a uniform tungsten carbide particles distribution. Depth elemental profiling by layer-by-layer LIBS analysis was demonstrated to be an effective method for studying tungsten carbide grains distribution in wear resistant coating without any sample preparation.

Spatial and seasonal variations of elemental composition in Mt. Everest (Qomolangma) snow/firn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Shichang; Zhang, Qianggong; Kaspari, Susan; Qin, Dahe; Cong, Zhiyuan; Ren, Jiawen; Mayewski, Paul A.

In May 2005, a total of 14 surface snow (0-10 cm) samples were collected along the climbing route from the advanced base camp to the summit (6500-8844 m a.s.l.) on the northern slope of Mt. Everest (Qomolangma). A 108 m firn/ice core was retrieved from the col of the East Rongbuk Glacier (28.03°N, 86.96°E, 6518 m a.s.l.) on the north eastern saddle of Mt. Everest in September 2002. Surface snow and the upper 3.5 m firn samples from the core were analyzed for major and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Measurements show that crustal elements dominated both surface snow and the firn core, suggesting that Everest snow chemistry is mainly influenced by crustal aerosols from local rock or prevalent spring dust storms over southern/central Asia. There are no clear trends for element variations with elevation due to local crustal aerosol inputs or redistribution of surface snow by strong winds during the spring. Seasonal variability in snow/firn elements show that high elemental concentrations occur during the non-monsoon season and low values during the monsoon season. Ca, Cr, Cs, and Sr display the most distinct seasonal variations. Elemental concentrations (especially for heavy metals) at Mt. Everest are comparable with polar sites, generally lower than in suburban areas, and far lower than in large cities. This indicates that anthropogenic activities and heavy metal pollution have little effect on the Mt. Everest atmospheric environment. Everest firn core REE concentrations are the first reported in the region and seem to be comparable with those measured in modern and Last Glacial Maximum snow/ice samples from Greenland and Antarctica, and with precipitation samples from Japan and the East China Sea. This suggests that REE concentrations measured at Everest are representative of the background atmospheric environment.

Assessment of potentially harmful elements pollution in the Calore River basin (Southern Italy).

PubMed

Zuzolo, Daniela; Cicchella, Domenico; Catani, Vittorio; Giaccio, Lucia; Guagliardi, Ilaria; Esposito, Libera; De Vivo, Benedetto

2017-06-01

The geographical distribution of concentration values for harmful elements was determined in the Campania region, Italy. The study area consists of the drainage basin of the River Calore, a tributary of the river Volturno, the largest Southern Italian river. The results provide reliable analytical data allowing a quantitative assessment of the trace element pollution threat to the ecosystem and human health. Altogether 562 stream sediment samples were collected at a sampling density of 1 site per 5 km 2 . All samples were air-dried, sieved to <100 mesh fraction and analyzed for 37 elements after an aqua regia extraction by a combination of ICP-AES and ICP-MS. In addition to elemental analysis, gamma-ray spectrometry data were collected (a total of 562 measurements) using a hand-held Scintrex GRS-500 spectrometer. Statistical analyses were performed to show the single-element distribution and the distribution of elemental association factor scores resulting from R-mode factor analyses. Maps showing element distributions were made using GeoDAS and ArcGIS software. Our study showed that, despite evidence from concentrations of many elements for enrichment over natural background values, the spatial distribution of major and trace elements in Calore River basin is determined mostly by geogenic factors. The southwestern area of the basin highlighted an enrichment of many elements potentially harmful for human health and other living organisms (Al, Fe, K, Na, As, Cd, La, Pb, Th, Tl, U); however, these anomalies are due to the presence of pyroclastic and alkaline volcanic lithologies. Even where sedimentary lithologies occur, many harmful elements (Co, Cr, Mn, Ni) showed high concentration levels due to natural origins. Conversely, a strong heavy metal contamination (Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb, Ag, Au, Hg), due to an anthropogenic contribution, is highlighted in many areas characterized by the presence of road junctions, urban settlements and industrial areas. The enrichment factor of these elements is 3-4 times higher than the background values. The southwestern area of the basin is characterized by a moderate/high degree of contamination, just where the two busiest roads of the area run and the highest concentration of industries occurs.

Censoring approach to the detection limits in X-ray fluorescence analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pajek, M.; Kubala-Kukuś, A.

2004-10-01

We demonstrate that the effect of detection limits in the X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), which limits the determination of very low concentrations of trace elements and results in appearance of the so-called "nondetects", can be accounted for using the statistical concept of censoring. More precisely, the results of such measurements can be viewed as the left random censored data, which can further be analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method correcting the data for the presence of nondetects. Using this approach, the results of measured, detection limit censored concentrations can be interpreted in a nonparametric manner including the correction for the nondetects, i.e. the measurements in which the concentrations were found to be below the actual detection limits. Moreover, using the Monte Carlo simulation technique we show that by using the Kaplan-Meier approach the corrected mean concentrations for a population of the samples can be estimated within a few percent uncertainties with respect of the simulated, uncensored data. This practically means that the final uncertainties of estimated mean values are limited in fact by the number of studied samples and not by the correction procedure itself. The discussed random-left censoring approach was applied to analyze the XRF detection-limit-censored concentration measurements of trace elements in biomedical samples.

Analytical Results for Municipal Biosolids Samples from a Monitoring Program near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.), 2007

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crock, J.G.; Smith, D.B.; Yager, T.J.B.; Berry, C.J.; Adams, M.G.

2008-01-01

Since late 1993, the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District of Denver (Metro District), a large wastewater treatment plant in Denver, Colorado, has applied Grade I, Class B biosolids to about 52,000 acres of nonirrigated farmland and rangeland near Deer Trail, Colorado (U.S.A.). In cooperation with the Metro District in 1993, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began monitoring ground water at part of this site. In 1999, the USGS began a more comprehensive monitoring study of the entire site to address stakeholder concerns about the potential chemical effects of biosolids applications to water, soil, and vegetation. This more comprehensive monitoring program recently has been extended through 2010. Monitoring components of the more comprehensive study include biosolids collected at the wastewater treatment plant, soil, crops, dust, alluvial and bedrock ground water, and streambed sediment. Streams at the site are dry most of the year, so samples of streambed sediment deposited after rain were used to indicate surface-water effects. This report will present only analytical results for the biosolids samples collected at the Metro District wastewater treatment plant in Denver and analyzed during 2007. We have presented earlier a compilation of analytical results for the biosolids samples collected and analyzed for 1999 through 2006. More information about the other monitoring components is presented elsewhere in the literature. Priority parameters for biosolids identified by the stakeholders and also regulated by Colorado when used as an agricultural soil amendment include the total concentrations of nine trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, and zinc), plutonium isotopes, and gross alpha and beta activity. Nitrogen and chromium also were priority parameters for ground water and sediment components. In general, the objective of each component of the study was to determine whether concentrations of priority parameters (1) were higher than regulatory limits, (2) were increasing with time, or (3) were significantly higher in biosolids-applied areas than in a similar farmed area where biosolids were not applied. Previous analytical results indicate that the elemental composition of the biosolids from the Denver plant was consistent during 1999-2006 and this consistency continues with the samples for 2007; total concentrations of regulated trace elements remained consistently lower than the regulatory limits for the entire monitoring period. Our previously reported data (1999-2006) and data presented in this report were used to compile an inorganic-chemical biosolids signature that can be contrasted with the geochemical signature for this site. The biosolids signature and an understanding of the geology and hydrology of the site can be used to separate biosolids effects from natural geochemical effects. Elements of particular interest for a biosolids signature include bismuth, copper, silver, mercury, phosphorus, and silver. An alternative method of digestion of biosolids was also recently investigated, and the results are presented in this report. A microwave digestion using only nitric acid at controlled elevated temperature and pressure was tested to replace the much more time-consuming and labor-intensive, traditional four-acid, hotplate method for the preparation of solutions to be analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Elements of concern determined by ICP-MS following digestion include cadmium, copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc. The microwave 'digestion' proved to be a strong acid leach, and it was less efficient at digesting the biosolids samples with consistently lower recoveries (compared to the four-acid digestion value) for most elements, but especially for the elements of concern - copper, nickel, and zinc. Other elements traditionally associated with the silicate or oxide minerals demonstrated low recoveries, especially titaniu

A Crystal Stratigraphy Approach to Deciphering the Petrogenesis of the Detroit Seamount

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simonetti, A.; Davenport, J.; Neal, C. R.

2012-12-01

The Detroit Seamount (DSM) erupted ~76-81 Ma ago, and is the northwestern terminus of the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount chain. The Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount chain has drastically furthered our understanding of how and where mantle plumes originate, the dynamics of interactions between plumes and mantle, and plate movement in the recent past. DSM Basalts from Site 1203 of Leg 197 of the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) contain, by rock volume, a large quantity of plagioclase and olivine phenocrysts. Previous investigations into magma chamber processes via phenocryst analysis such as those occurring at the DSM have largely relied solely on major and trace element analyses. However, since both are easily susceptible to post-solidification alteration processes, in this study we are undertaking a multi-faceted approach to deciphering the petrogenetic history of the DSM basalts via crystal stratigraphy, crystal size distributions (CSDs), electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), laser ablation and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA- and MC-ICP-MS), microdilling and phase separation, and isotope analysis of whole-rock, olivine and plagioclase phenocrysts and their associated melt inclusions. A preliminary Sr isotope and trace element investigation of DSM whole rock basalts from Site 884 yielded a range of values between 0.70262 and 0.70276, as well as MORB-like trace element patterns. Notably, the plagioclase rims analyzed possessed a more radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr)I than the core (0.70361 ± 2 vs. 0.70347 ± 2). Our initial interpretation of this radiogenic increase from core-to-rim was crystal growth in an OIB-rich magma source that was not cogenetic with its matrix. Eight olivine phenocrysts from DSM basalts were analyzed for major elements using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) techniques. Fosterite contents of the olivine phenocrysts range from 84-86. Olivines from basalt sample 10R-4 exhibit a well-defined correlation between Ni and Mn contents, whereas those from sample 10R-3 show a more limited range of Mn and Ni compositions. The trends defined by the data from the olivine phenocrysts clearly suggest that fractional crystallization was not the sole magma differentiation process to have occurred. Rare earth element (REE) abundances for the olivine phenocrysts are low, and generally range from 0.1 to 2 ppm, with those from basalt sample 10R-4 containing higher abundances than sample 10R-3. Melt inclusions from within plagioclase phenocrysts in DSM basalt sample 9R-2 from Site 884 were analyzed via laser ablation-ICP-MS. Results from the analyses indicate that the melt inclusions are LREE-enriched and negatively-sloped compared to the LREE-depleted basalt whole rock compositions from the DSM and the East Pacific Rise. Of interest, the La concentrations in the melt inclusions are notably similar to abundances found for the Manua Kea tholeiites. Trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for both melt inclusions and phenocrysts from the DSM basalts are all indicative of open system behavior and possibly consistent with magma mixing between at least two end-member mantle components.

A comparative study of neutron activation analysis and proton-induced X-ray emission analysis for the determination of heavy metals in estuarine sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Randle, K.; Al-Jundi, J.; Mamas, C. J. V.; Sokhi, R. S.; Earwaker, L. G.

1993-06-01

Our work on heavy metals in the estuarine environment has involved the use of two multielement techniques: neutron activation analysis (NAA) and proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. As PIXE is essentially a surface analytical technique problems may arise due to sample inhomogeneity and surface roughness. In order to assess the contribution of these effects we have compared the results from PIXE analysis with those from a technique which analyzes a larger bulk sample rather than just the surface. An obvious method was NAA. A series of sediment samples containing particles of variable diameter were compared. Pellets containing a few mg of sediment were prepared from each sample and analyzed by the PIXE technique using both an absolute and a comparitive method. For INAA the rest of the sample was then irradiated with thermal neutrons and element concentrations determined from analyses of the subsequent gamma-ray spectrum. Results from the two methods are discussed.

Atmospheric Electron-induced X-Ray Spectrometer (AEXS) Instrument Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Urgiles, E.; Wilcox, J. Z.; Toda, R.; Crisp, J.; George, T.

2005-01-01

Introduction: This paper describes the progress in data acquisition and establishing the observational capability of the AEXS instrument. The AEXS is a miniature instrument[1-4] based on the excitation of characteristic X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and luminescence spectra using a focused electron beam which enables nondestructive evaluation of sample surfaces in planetary ambient atmospheres. In situ operation is obtained through the use of a thin electron transmissive membrane to isolate the vacuum of the AEXS source from the outside ambient atmosphere. Thus eliminating the need for a vacuum pumped sample chamber as is common in all laboratory SEM s. The transmitted electrons impinge on the sample exciting XRF spectra from the irradiated spot on in-situ or collected samples with sub-mm to cm-scale spatial resolution at Mars atmospheric pressure. The AEXS system (Fig 1) consists of a high-energy (>10keV) electron gun encapsulated by the isolation membrane, an XRF detection and analyzer system, and a high voltage power supply. The XRF data are analyzed to determine the elemental abundance for the irradiated spots. The approach to demonstrating a proof of concept of the AEXS has been through 1) demonstrating the viability of microfabricated membranes, 2) assembling AEXS setups with increasingly integrated functional components, and 3) simulating the AEXS observational capabilities. The development of the instrument is described in detail in the poster paper[4] at this conference. This paper focuses on describing the progress of the AEXS instrument to acquire XRF data and using commercially available software to analyze the data streams and determine the accuracy, precision and resolution of the analysis compared to the certified elemental abundance.

Mercury and other trace elements in Ohio River fish collected near coal-fired power plants: Interspecific patterns and consideration of consumption risks.

PubMed

Reash, Robin J; Brown, Lauren; Merritt, Karen

2015-07-01

Many coal-fired electric generating facilities in the United States are discharging higher loads of Hg, Se, and other chemicals to receiving streams due to the installation of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) air pollution control units. There are regulatory concerns about the potential increased uptake of these bioaccumulative trace elements into food webs. We evaluated the concentrations of As, total Hg (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and Se in Ohio River fish collected proximal to coal-fired power plants, of which 75% operate FGD systems. Fillet samples (n = 50) from 6 fish species representing 3 trophic levels were analyzed. Geometric mean fillet concentrations of THg (wet wt), MeHg (wet wt), and Se (dry wt) in 3 species were 0.136, 0.1181, and 3.19 mg/kg (sauger); 0.123, 0.1013, and 1.56 mg/kg (channel catfish); and 0.127, 0.0914, and 3.30 mg/kg (hybrid striped bass). For all species analyzed, only 3 fillet samples (6% of total) had MeHg concentrations that exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) human health criterion (0.3 mg/kg wet wt); all of these were freshwater drum aged ≥ 19 y. None of the samples analyzed exceeded the USEPA proposed muscle and whole body Se thresholds for protection against reproductive effects in freshwater fish. All but 8 fillet samples had a total As concentration less than 1.0 mg/kg dry wt. Mean Se health benefit values (HBVSe ) for all species were ≥ 4, indicating that potential Hg-related health risks associated with consumption of Ohio River fish are likely to be offset by adequate Se concentrations. Overall, we observed no measurable evidence of enhanced trace element bioaccumulation associated with proximity to power plant FGD facilities, however, some enhanced bioaccumulation could have occurred in the wastewater mixing zones. Furthermore, available evidence indicates that, due to hydraulic and physical factors, the main stem Ohio River appears to have low net Hg methylation potential. © 2015 SETAC.

GC/MS analysis of pesticides in the Ferrara area (Italy) surface water: a chemometric study.

PubMed

Pasti, Luisa; Nava, Elisabetta; Morelli, Marco; Bignami, Silvia; Dondi, Francesco

2007-01-01

The development of a network to monitor surface waters is a critical element in the assessment, restoration and protection of water quality. In this study, concentrations of 42 pesticides--determined by GC-MS on samples from 11 points along the Ferrara area rivers--have been analyzed by chemometric tools. The data were collected over a three-year period (2002-2004). Principal component analysis of the detected pesticides was carried out in order to define the best spatial locations for the sampling points. The results obtained have been interpreted in view of agricultural land use. Time series data regarding pesticide contents in surface waters has been analyzed using the Autocorrelation function. This chemometric tool allows for seasonal trends and makes it possible to optimize sampling frequency in order to detect the effective maximum pesticide content.

Trace elements and organic chemicals in stream-bottom sediments and fish tissues, Red River of the North basin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 1992-95

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brigham, M.E.; Goldstein, R.M.; Tornes, L.H.

1998-01-01

Stream-bottom sediment and fish-tissue samples from the Red River of the North Basin, were analyzed for a large suite of chemical elements and organic chemicals. Cadmium, lead, and mercury were widespread in sediments, at concentrations not indicative of acute contamination. Mercury, the element of greatest health concern in the region, was detected at low concentrations in 38 of 43 sediment samples (<0.02-0.13 micrograms per gram) and all of eleven fish-liver samples (0.03-0.6 micrograms per gram dry weight, or 0.0066-0.13 micrograms per gram wet weight). Concentrations of many elements appeared to be controlled by mineral rather than anthropogenic sources. DDT and its metabolites were the most frequently detected synthetic organochlorines: p,p'-DDE was detected in 9 of 38 sediment samples (concentration range: <1-16 nanograms per gram) and also frequently in whole-fish samples. Total DDT (the sum of DDT and its metabolites) concentrations ranged from <5 to 217 nanograms per gram, and at least one component of total DDT was detected in 19 of 23 fish samples. Concentrations of DDT and its metabolites in stream sediments were significantly higher in the intensively cropped Red River Valley Lake Plain, compared to upland areas, probably because of greater historical DDT usage in the lake plain. Several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in stream-bottom sediments. Although the potentially toxic chemicals measured in this study were at low levels, relative to more contaminated areas of the Nation, maximum concentrations of some chemicals are of concern because of their possible effects on aquatic biota and human health.