Multielemental characterization of airborne particulate matter collected in Bucharest and Tokushima by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

Airborne particulate matter (PM) collected in Bucharest (Romania) and Tokushima (Japan) was comprehensively characterized through multielemental analysis by ICP-MS to the PM samples. Prior to an elemental characterization of the sample, a multielemental determination method composed of acid digestion (HClO(4)/HNO(3)/HF or H(2)O(2)/HNO(3)/HF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry/inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-MS/ICP-AES) was established to analyze a certified reference material of vehicle exhaust matter (NIES No. 8) for verifying the method. As the results, 39 elements in the certified reference material could be determined. They were a good agreement with the certified and reference values for HClO(4)/HNO(3)/HF acid digestion. Chalcophile elements, such as cadmium, antimony, and lead in Bucharest showed higher enrichment factors than those in Tokushima.

Direct detection of a phase change in PdO/CeO2 supported on chi-Al2O3 by means of in situ high-temperature measurements of XRD and FTIR.

Phase changes between PdO and Pd metal can be directly detected in PdO/CeO2 catalysts supported on chi-Al2O3 by means of in situ high-temperature measurements of X-ray diffraction and FT-IR in relation to the catalytic activity for the methane oxidation of microcrystalline PdO. Reversible changes in the solid phases are observed from PdO to Pd and Pd to PdO under O2-deficient and O2-excess atmospheres, respectively. Nanosizes of PdO and Pd crystallites, the distorted PdO crystal structure along the (110) plane, and also a distorted Pd metal crystal structure along the (200) plane as well as the large surface area elucidate the high catalytic activity for the methane oxidation of PdO/CeO2 catalysts prepared with an atomic ratio of Pd:Ce = 1:1.