Determination of the Nanoscale Silica Mass Fraction by AF4/ICP-MS with Isotope Dilution Analysis Using 29Si-Enriched Silica Nanoparticles.

A methodology based on the use of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled to ICP-MS with size fraction-targeted isotope dilution analysis (IDA) has been developed, validated, and applied for the first time to determine the mass fraction of nanoscale silica (SiO2). For this purpose, 29Si-enriched SiO2 nanoparticles, to be used as an IDA spike/internal standard, were synthesized and characterized in-house. Double IDA was used to quantify an aqueous suspension of Stöber silica particles of similar characteristics to those of the 29SiO2 nanoparticle (NP) spike using a representative test material of natural Si isotopic composition as the calibrant. For fumed SiO2 NP in a highly complex food matrix, a methodology based on single IDA with AF4/ICP-MS using the same 29SiO2 NP spike was developed and validated. Relative expanded measurement uncertainties (k = 2) of 4% (double IDA) and 8% (single IDA) were achieved for nanoscale silica mass fractions of 5143 and 107 mg kg-1 in water suspension and food matrix, respectively. To assess the accuracy of AF4/ICP-IDMS for the characterization of SiO2 NP in a food matrix, standard addition measurements on samples spiked with Aerosil AF200, also in-house characterized for Si mass fraction, were undertaken, with an average recovery of 95.6 ± 4.1% (RSD, n = 3) obtained. The particle-specific IDA data obtained for both SiO2 NP-containing samples were also compared with that of post-AF4 channel external calibration using inorganic Si standards. The mass fractions obtained by IDA agreed well with those obtained by external calibration within their associated measurement uncertainties.

Identifying CO2 Seeps in a Long-Dormant Volcanic Area Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle-Based Infrared Thermometry: A Qualitative Study.

Ciomadul is a long-dormant volcanic area in the Eastern Carpathians of Romania. The study site, the Stinky Cave, and the surrounding areas are well-known for CO2, and H2S seeps. The gases from these seeps come with high flux and are of magmatic origin, associated with the volcanic activity of Ciomadul. In this study, an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle coupled with a thermal infrared sensor is used to identify new seeps. In order to achieve this, we carried out several field campaigns, coupling image acquisition with the creation of digital outcrop models and orthomosaics. The study was carried out at low ambient temperatures to identify strong thermal anomalies from the gasses. Using this qualitative study method, we identified several new seeps. The total emission of the greenhouse gas CO2 in the Ciomadul area and other similar sites is highly underestimated. The practical application of this method will serve as a guide for a future regional rollout of the thermal infrared mapping and identification of CO2 seeps in the area.

57Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy as a Tool for Study of Spin States and Magnetic Interactions in Inorganic Chemistry.

In this mini-review of our research group's activity, the application of 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy in studies of electronic structure, coordination environment, and magnetic interactions in an interesting series of Fe(II/III) compounds selected is discussed. We selected two prominent phenomena that arose during investigations of selected groups of compounds carried out at different periods of time: (1) very high magnetic hyperfine fields observed at low temperatures; (2) changes in the oxidation state of the central iron atom of complexes in the solid state during interactions with gaseous O2/H2O mixtures, resulting in spin crossover (SCO).

Total synthesis of isotopically enriched Si-29 silica NPs as potential spikes for isotope dilution quantification of natural silica NPs.

A new method was developed for the preparation of highly monodisperse isotopically enriched Si-29 silica nanoparticles ((29)Si-silica NPs) with the purpose of using them as spikes for isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) quantification of silica NPs with natural isotopic distribution. Si-29 tetraethyl orthosilicate ((29)Si-TEOS), the silica precursor was prepared in two steps starting from elementary silicon-29 pellets. In the first step Si-29 silicon tetrachloride ((29)SiCl4) was prepared by heating elementary silicon-29 in chlorine gas stream. By using a multistep cooling system and the dilution of the volatile and moisture-sensitive (29)SiCl4 in carbon tetrachloride as inert medium we managed to reduce product loss caused by evaporation. (29)Si-TEOS was obtained by treating (29)SiCl4 with absolute ethanol. Structural characterisation of (29)Si-TEOS was performed by using (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. For the NP preparation, a basic amino acid catalysis route was used and the resulting NPs were analysed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements. Finally, the feasibility of using enriched NPs for on-line field-flow fractionation coupled with multi-angle light scattering and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FFF/MALS/ICP-MS) has been demonstrated.

Influence of intermolecular interactions on the Mössbauer quadrupole splitting of organotin(IV) compounds as studied by DFT calculations.

The influence of intermolecular interactions on the Mössbauer quadrupole splitting (Delta) of 119Sn was investigated in detail by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Six organotin(IV) complexes [Me2Sn(acac)2 (1), Ph3SnCl (2), Me3Sn-succinimide (3), Me3Sn-phthalimide (4), Me3SnCl (5), and cHex3SnCl (6)] of known solid-state structures and quadrupole splittings were selected. Theoretical Delta values were calculated for both fully optimized geometries and experimental solid-state structures of different size, and the results were compared to the experimental Delta values. Compared to a synthetic procedure described in the literature for compound 4, a more convenient synthesis is reported here. The experimental Delta of this compound has also been redetermined at 80 K. For compounds with negligible intermolecular interactions in the solid state, calculated Delta values obtained did not vary significantly. In contrast, the calculated Delta values turned out to be very sensitive to the size of the supramolecular moiety considered in the crystal lattice. The crystal structure of compound 2 shows no significant intermolecular interactions; however, the calculated and the experimental Delta values remained very different, even when the supramolecular moiety considered was extended. Distortion of the coordination sphere of tin in the molecule of 2 toward a trigonal bipyramidal geometry was considered, and a possible weak intermolecular Sn...Cl interaction was included in the model. Steps of the distortion followed the new structure correlation function, which was found for the R3SnCl (R=alkyl, aryl) compounds. The experimental Delta value could be approached by this method. These results suggest that compound 2 is involved in some unexpected intermolecular interaction at 80 K.