scholarly journals Discovery of argon in air-hydrate crystals in a deep ice core using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Uchida ◽  
Wataru Shigeyama ◽  
Ikumi Oyabu ◽  
Kumiko Goto-Azuma ◽  
Fumio Nakazawa ◽  
...  

Abstract Tiny samples of ancient atmosphere in air bubbles within ice cores contain argon (Ar), which can be used to reconstruct past temperature changes. At a sufficient depth, the air bubbles are compressed by the overburden pressure under low temperature and transform into air-hydrate crystals. While the oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) molecules have indeed been identified in the air-hydrate crystals with Raman spectroscopy, direct observational knowledge of the distribution of Ar at depth within ice sheet and its enclathration has been lacking. In this study, we applied scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to five air-hydrate crystals in the Greenland NEEM ice core, finding them to contain Ar and N. Given that Ar cannot be detected by Raman spectroscopy, the method commonly used for O2 and N2, the SEM-EDS measurement method may become increasingly useful for measuring inert gases in deep ice cores.

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1063
Author(s):  
Ariadne Kostomitsopoulou Marketou ◽  
Fabrizio Andriulo ◽  
Calin Steindal ◽  
Søren Handberg

This paper aims to expand our understanding of the processes involved in the production of the artificial pigment Egyptian blue through the scientific examination of pigments found in the first century BCE workshop of the Greek island of Kos. There, 136 Egyptian blue pellets were brought to light, including successfully produced pellets, as well as partially successful and unsuccessful products. This study is based on the examination of eighteen samples obtained from pellets of various textures and tones of blue, including light and dark blue pigments, coarse and fine-grained materials, and one unsuccessful pellet of dark green/grey colour. The samples were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. These complementary microanalytical techniques provide localised information about the chemical and mineralogical composition of this multicomponent material, at a single-grain level. The results shed light on the firing procedure and indicate possible sources for raw materials (beach sand, copper alloys), as well as demonstrating the use of a low-alkali starting mixture. Moreover, two different process for the production of light blue pigments were identified: (a) decreased firing time and (b) grinding of the initially produced pellet and mixing with cobalt-containing material.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 495-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan A. Almarshad ◽  
Sayed M. Badawy ◽  
Abdalkarem F. Alsharari

Aim and Objective: Formation of the gallbladder stones is a common disease and a major health problem. The present study aimed to identify the structures of the most common types of gallbladder stones using X-ray spectroscopic techniques, which provide information about the process of stone formation. Material and Method: Phase and elemental compositions of pure cholesterol and mixed gallstones removed from gallbladders of patients were studied using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy analysis and X-ray diffraction. Results: The crystal structures of gallstones which coincide with standard patterns were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Plate-like cholesterol crystals with laminar shaped and thin layered structures were clearly observed for gallstone of pure cholesterol by scanning electron microscopy; it also revealed different morphologies from mixed cholesterol stones. Elemental analysis of pure cholesterol and mixed gallstones using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the different formation processes of the different types of gallstones. Conclusion: The method of fast and reliable X-ray spectroscopic techniques has numerous advantages over the traditional chemical analysis and other analytical techniques. The results also revealed that the X-ray spectroscopy technique is a promising technique that can aid in understanding the pathogenesis of gallstone disease.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 2050-2054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello Gombos ◽  
Vicente Gomis ◽  
Anna Esther Carrillo ◽  
Antonio Vecchione ◽  
Sandro Pace ◽  
...  

In this work, we report on the observation of Nd1Ba6Cu3O10,5 (Nd163) phase of the NdBaCuO system in melt-textured Nd123 bulk samples grown from a mixture of Nd123 and Nd210 phase powders. The observation was performed with polarized light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive x-ray analyses. Images of the identified phase crystals show an aspect quite different from Nd422 crystals. Unexpectedly, Nd163 was individuated, even in “pure” Nd123 samples. Moreover, after long exposure to air, Nd163 disappeared completely in samples synthesized from powders containing Nd210. Thermogravimetry analyses of powders show that the stability of this phase in air is limited to temperatures higher than 900 °C, so Nd163 is unstable and highly reactive at room temperature. Moreover, an explanation of the observation of Nd163 in Nd210 free samples, based on the spontaneous formation of Nd163 phase in a Nd123 melt, is proposed.


Author(s):  
Congmin Li ◽  
Yanguo Yin ◽  
Ming Xu ◽  
Jianfeng Cheng ◽  
Lan Shen ◽  
...  

Abstract The microstructures of an Al-Bi immiscible alloy and the corresponding composites containing TiC (1 wt.% and 2 wt.%) were explored for melt temperatures of 800 °C, 850 °C, and 900°C. It was demonstrated that serious coarsening and macrosegregation of Bi-rich minority phase particles occurred, which was slightly alleviated by increasing the melt temperature from 800 °C to 900 °C. By adding TiC particles, the coarsening and macrosegregation of Bi-rich minority phase particles were significantly impeded. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that TiC particles were located inside and on the surface of Bi-rich minority phase particles, exhibiting heterogeneous nucleation and self-assembly behaviour. By properly increasing the holding time of the melt, finer and more uniform Bi-rich minority phase particles were obtained.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 1613-1619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Rondeau-Gagné ◽  
Jules Roméo Néabo ◽  
Maxime Daigle ◽  
Katy Cantin ◽  
Jean-François Morin

The synthesis and self-assembly of two new phenylacetylene macrocycle (PAM) organogelators were performed. Polar 2-hydroxyethoxy side chains were incorporated in the inner part of the macrocycles to modify the assembly mode in the gel state. With this modification, it was possible to increase the reactivity of the macrocycles in the xerogel state to form polydiacetylenes (PDAs), leading to a significant enhancement of the polymerization yields. The organogels and the PDAs were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).


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