scholarly journals Development and Application of Nanoparticle-Nanopolymer Composite Spheres for the Study of Environmental Processes

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Rauschendorfer ◽  
Kyle M. Whitham ◽  
Star Summer ◽  
Samantha A. Patrick ◽  
Aliandra E. Pierce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
The Past ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Sensitivity And Selectivity ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Synthetic Copolymer

Plastics have long been an environmental contaminant of concern as both large-scale plastic debris and as micro- and nano-plastics with demonstrated wide-scale ubiquity. Research in the past decade has focused on the potential toxicological risks posed by microplastics, as well as their unique fate and transport brought on by their colloidal nature. These efforts have been slowed by the lack of analytical techniques with sufficient sensitivity and selectivity to adequately detect and characterize these contaminants in environmental and biological matrices. To improve analytical analyses, microplastic tracers are developed with recognizable isotopic, metallic, or fluorescent signatures capable of being identified amidst a complex background. Here we describe the synthesis, characterization, and application of a novel synthetic copolymer nanoplastic based on polystyrene (PS) and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) intercalated with gold, platinum or palladium nanoparticles that can be capped with different polymeric shells meant to mimic the intended microplastic. In this work, particles with PS and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) shells are used to examine the behavior of microplastic particles in estuarine sediment and coastal waters. The micro- and nanoplastic tracers, with sizes between 300 and 500 nm in diameter, were characterized using multiple physical, chemical, and colloidal analysis techniques. The metallic signatures of the tracers allow for quantification by both bulk and single-particle inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS and spICP-MS, respectively). As a demonstration of environmental applicability, the tracers were equilibrated with sediment collected from Bellingham Bay, WA, United States to determine the degree to which microplastics bind and sink in an estuary based of grain size and organic carbon parameters. In these experiments, between 80 and 95% of particles were found to associate with the sediment, demonstrative of estuaries being a major anticipated sink for these contaminants. These materials show considerable promise in their versatility, potential for multiplexing, and utility in studying micro- and nano-plastic transport in real-world environments.

scholarly journals New Insights into the Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Sb Ores from Greece

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Evangelos Tzamos ◽  
Platon N. Gamaletsos ◽  
Giovanni Grieco ◽  
Micol Bussolesi ◽  
Anthimos Xenidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Epma Data ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
The Past ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
First Time ◽  
Of Greece

Antimony is a common metalloid occurring in the form of Sb-sulfides and sulfosalts, in various base and noble metal deposits. It is also present in corresponding metallurgical products (concentrates) and, although antimony has been considered a penalty element in the past, recently it has gained interest due to its classification as a critical raw material (CRM) by the European Union (EU). In the frame of the present paper, representative ore samples from the main Sb-bearing deposits of Greece (Kilkis prefecture, Chalkidiki prefecture (Kassandra Mines), and Chios Isl.) have been investigated. According to optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) data, the Greek ores contain stibnite (Sb2S3), boulangerite (Pb5Sb4S11), bournonite (PbCuSbS3), bertherite (FeSbS4), and valentinite (Sb2O3). Bulk analyses by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) confirmed, for the first time published, the presence of a significant Hg content in the Kilkis Sb-ore. Furthermore, Kassandra Mines ores are found to contain remarkable amounts of Bi, As, Sn, Tl, and Se (excluding Ag, which is a bonus element). The above findings could contribute to potential future exploration and exploitation of Sb ores in Greece.

scholarly journals Chemical Characterization of Vitreous Finds from Cosenza Cathedral (Calabria – Italy) by the Combined Use of Analytical Techniques

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatella Barca ◽  
Franca C. Papparella
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
13Th Century ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry

AbstractThis article presents an archaeometrical research carried out on twenty-six vitreous finds collected in the Cosenza Cathedral (Calabria, Italy). The glasses have been subdivided in two typo-chronological groups. The first group is composed of 14 vitreous samples dating to the 4th–6th century AD. The second group includes twelve samples; seven are stems of funnel-shaped hanging lamps which date between the 12th and the 13th century AD, two are bottlenecks of balsamaria and three are concave bases. The aims of this study were the determination of the chemical composition of vitreous finds and the individuation of the primary glass sources. The samples were characterized through Electron Probe Micro Analyser with Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometer (EPMA-WDS) and Laser Ablation with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The data confirm that all the finds of the first group are “silica-soda-lime” type glasses characterized by a high content of Na2O and a low content of K2O and MgO. On the contrary, the samples of the second group, showing higher contents of K2O and MgO, are vegetable silica-soda-lime glasses. Their composition confirms the typological attribution to the medieval period.

scholarly journals Chronological Classification of Ancient Mortars Employing Spectroscopy and Spectrometry Techniques: Sagunto (Valencia, Spain) Case

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ramacciotti ◽  
S. Rubio ◽  
G. Gallello ◽  
M. Lezzerini ◽  
S. Columbu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Islamic Period ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Minor Elements ◽  
Imperial Period ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Two Phases

Forty-two mortar samples, from two archaeological excavations located in Sagunto (Valencian Community, Spain), were analysed by both portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pED-XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine major and minor elements and traces including rare earth elements (REEs). Collected data were crossed with those previously obtained from Sagunto Castle mortars, and principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to discriminate the construction phases of the unearthed buildings. REE permitted to ascribe most of the masonries to the Roman Imperial period. Moreover, a statistical model was built by employing partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) in order to classify the mortars from Roman Imperial period and from Islamic period due to the problematic overlapping between these two phases. Results confirmed the effectiveness of the developed indirect chronology method, based on REE data, to discriminate among historic mortars from different construction periods on a wide scale including different Sagunto archaeological sites.

LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of low-U garnets reveals multiple episodes of skarn formation in the volcanic-hosted iron mineralization system, Awulale belt, Central Asia

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1031-1045
Author(s):  
Shuang Yan ◽  
Renjie Zhou ◽  
He-Cai Niu ◽  
Yue-xing Feng ◽  
Ai Duc Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Iron Deposits ◽  
Multiple Episodes

Abstract Volcanic-hosted iron deposits of the eastern Awulale metallogenetic belt in Central Asia possess a reserve of over 1.2 billion tons of iron ores and constitute one of the most important basements for high-grade iron resources in China. Skarns are widespread in these deposits and closely associated with iron mineralization. The ages of these skarns are unclear, and their genesis remains debated, preventing further investigation into their metallogenic processes. We focused on garnets in nine ore-bearing skarns from three large-scale iron deposits (Chagangnuoer, Dunde, and Beizhan) in the eastern Awulale belt. U-Pb dating was conducted on these garnets using our in-house reference material, the Taochong garnet (TC-13, Pb-Pb isochron age: 126.2 ± 2.3 Ma, initial 207Pb/206Pb ratio: 0.845 ± 0.022). Laser-ablation–multicollector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS) was employed in the garnet U-Pb dating, and high-precision U-Pb ages (0.3%–1.6%) were obtained, highlighting the advantages of LA-MC-ICP-MS in dating low-U minerals. The garnet U-Pb ages of the nine skarn samples fall into three groups, i.e., 329.0 ± 5.1–326 ± 3.3 Ma (two samples), 316.3 ± 2.9–311.2 ± 2.4 Ma (six samples), and 295.6 ± 1.0 Ma (one sample), implying three episodes of skarn alteration in the volcanic-hosted iron mineralization system. The first and second episodes of skarns formed as a result of contact metasomatism between coeval volcanic rocks and limestone, and they have economically important iron mineralization. The third was likely caused by a local postcollision granitic intrusion, but its metallogenic potential deserves further assessment.

Metal-Organic Frameworks vs. Buffers: Case Study of UiO-66 Stability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Bůžek ◽  
Slavomír Adamec ◽  
Kamil Lang ◽  
Jan Demel
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Buffer Capacity ◽  
Metal Organic Framework ◽  
Metal Organic Frameworks ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Aqueous Dispersions ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Metal Organic

<div><p>UiO-66 is a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) that has numerous applications. Our group recently determined that UiO-66 is not as inert in aqueous dispersions as previously reported in the literature. The present work therefore assessed the behaviour of UiO-66 in buffers: 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (TRIS), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethane sulfonic acid (HEPES), N-ethylmorpholine (NEM) and phosphate buffer (PB), all of which are commonly used in many UiO-66 applications. High pressure liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to monitor degradation of the MOF. In each buffer, the terephthalate linker was released to some extent, with a more pronounced leaching effect in the saline forms of these buffers. The HEPES buffer was found to be the most benign, whereas NEM and PB should be avoided at any concentration as they were shown to rapidly degrade the UiO-66 framework. Low concentration TRIS buffers are also recommended, although these offer minimal buffer capacity to adjust pH. Regardless of the buffer used, rapid terephthalate release was observed, indicating that the UiO-66 was attacked immediately after mixing with the buffer. In addition, the dissolution of zirconium, observed in some cases, intensified the UiO-66 decomposition process. These results demonstrate that sensitive analytical techniques have to be used to monitor the release of MOF components so as to quantify the stabilities of these materials in liquid environments.</p></div>

Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: Investigating Nonlinear Response Observed in Pulse Counting Mode and Extending the Linear Dynamic Range by Compensating for Dead Time Related Count Losses on a Microsecond Timescale

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingo Strenge ◽  
Carsten Engelhard
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Nonlinear Response ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Dead Time ◽  
Inorganic Nanoparticles ◽  
Linear Dynamic Range ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry

<p>The article demonstrates the importance of using a suitable approach to compensate for dead time relate count losses (a certain measurement artefact) whenever short, but potentially strong transient signals are to be analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Findings strongly support the theory that inadequate time resolution, and therefore insufficient compensation for these count losses, is one of the main reasons for size underestimation observed when analysing inorganic nanoparticles using ICP-MS, a topic still controversially discussed.</p>

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