ANKAphase: software for single-distance phase retrieval from inline X-ray phase-contrast radiographs.

A computer program named ANKAphase is presented that processes X-ray inline phase-contrast radiographs by reconstructing the projected thickness of the object(s) imaged. The program uses a single-distance non-iterative phase-retrieval algorithm described by David Paganin et al. [(2002), J. Microsc. 206, 33-40]. Allowing for non-negligible absorption in the sample, this method is strictly valid only for monochromatic illumination and single-material objects but tolerates deviations from these conditions, especially polychromaticity. ANKAphase is designed to be applied to tomography data (although it does not perform tomographic reconstruction itself). It can process series of images and perform flat-field and dark-field correction. Written in Java, ANKAphase has an intuitive graphical user interface and can be run either as a stand-alone application or as a plugin to ImageJ, a widely used scientific image-processing program. A description of ANKAphase is given and example applications are shown.

Inventory of regulations and analysis techniques for trace elements in some water supply companies in eastern and western Europe.

With the ultimate objective in contributing to the improvement of the quality control of drinking water and to facilitate the checking of its compliance with the respective regulations, an inventory of analytical techniques used in water supply companies in Eastern and Western European countries is presented. The existing regulations for drinking water and bottled mineral water quality with respect to trace elements in these countries are compared to regulations of the World Health Organisation. The data obtained can be useful for further harmonisation of the respective regulations in Europe.

Simple method of determination of iodide at microgram/L level in potable water with preliminary preconcentration by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

A simple method for iodide determination in potable water with preliminary preconcentration has been worked out. Iodide was precipitated as palladium (II) iodide on elemental palladium as a carrier, which was obtained by reduction of Pd(II) with sodium thiosulfate. Ammonium chloropalladite was used as a reagent. The volume of water taken for analysis was between 100 and 500 cm3. The precipitate was filtered through a membrane filter, air-dried and directly analyzed by the energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) method. 241Am radioisotope was used as a source of exciting radiation. The precision of the method was 7% for iodide mass per filter equal to 2 micrograms. The detection limit amounted to 0.45 microgram of iodide per filter.