M. A. Rizzutto

Removal of heavy metal from polluted river water using aquatic macrophytes Salvinia sp

Concentrations of trace metallic element as well as macronutrients were measured in water and plants from pond water. The aquatic macrophyte Salvinia sp. was evaluated for its trace metals removal potential in river water under laboratory conditions. The experiment were performed using several healthy acclimatized plants Salvinia sp. The water and grown plants were collected from ponds. For the trace element removals test, 30-35 grams of fresh aquatic plants were grown in river water into a greenhouse for ten weeks. Control plants were also grown during the experiment. Every two weeks, both plants and water samples were collected. After the end of each experiment, the growth rate was calculated. Trace element concentrations in plants and pond water were obtained using TXRF techniques. Values for the elements (K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn and Sr) concentrations in plant dry weight have been obtained after deducting metal contents of control plants. For each trace element, the aquatic Salvinia sp. plant showed to possess different affinity for the incorporation of the metals in its biomass. Results suggest the use of aquatic macrophytes Salvinia sp. for metal abatement in dilute wastewaters.

Analysis and discussion of trace elements in teeth of different animal species

Human, bovine and swine teeth were analyzed by Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). The aim of this work was to determine the concentration of trace elements in enamel and dentine of different animal species. PIXE analysis was carried out at the Laboratrio de Anlise de Materiais por Feixes Inicos da USP (LAMFI) using a 2.4 MeV proton beam to probe the samples. Healthy teeth from So Paulo region were analyzed. Thirteen elements were measured and quantified in the samples: P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr and Ba. The measured ratio of Ca:P in dentine and enamel teeth is the same expected for hydroxyapatite: 2.13, for all three types. Trace element concentrations were found to be very similar between the three species, except for S, Cl, Fe, Cu and Sr. Ni and Cu concentrations were found to be close to 1 ppm, which is also close to the detection limits of the SP-PIXE system.

MultiSIMNRA: A computational tool for self-consistent ion beam analysis using SIMNRA

Abstract SIMNRA is widely adopted by the scientific community of ion beam analysis for the simulation and interpretation of nuclear scattering techniques for material characterization. Taking advantage of its recognized reliability and quality of the simulations, we developed a computer program that uses multiple parallel sessions of SIMNRA to perform self-consistent analysis of data obtained by different ion beam techniques or in different experimental conditions of a given sample. In this paper, we present a result using MultiSIMNRA for a self-consistent multi-elemental analysis of a thin film produced by magnetron sputtering. The results demonstrate the potentialities of the self-consistent analysis and its feasibility using MultiSIMNRA.

Correlation between heavy metal ions (copper, zinc, lead) concentrations and root length of Allium cepa L. in polluted river water

O presente trabalho foi realizado utilizando a cebola comum (Allium cepa L.) como bioindicador da toxicidade de metais pesados em agua de rio. As aguas de teste foram coletadas em dois locais: na nascente e na foz do rio Toledo. Os bulbos de A. cepa L. foram cultivados em agua de teste com nove niveis de concentracao de cobre, zinco e chumbo de 0,1 a 50 ppm. Em laboratorio a influencia destes liquidos de teste em crescimento de raiz foi examinada durante cinco dias. Em todos os liquidos de teste o metal dissolvido contido foi medido pela tecnica TXRF. Para liquidos de teste contendo 0,1-ppm de Cu dissolvido o crescimento da raiz foi reduzido em 50%. Entretanto, ocorreu a mesma reducao para 1-ppm de Zn dissolvido. Para Pb dissolvido, o metodo do Allium teste revela toxidade acima de 0,1 e 0,5 ppm para a nascente e a foz do rio Toledo, respectivamente.

Evaluation of trace element levels in muscles, liver and gonad of fish species from São Francisco River of the Paraná Brazilian state by using SR-TXRF technique.

This study is focused on the analysis of an accumulation of inorganic elements in muscles, liver and gonad of seven fish species from São Francisco River located in the Paraná state of Brazil. Concentrations of the elements were determined using the SR-TXRF technique. In the muscles of fish species, negative length dependent relationships were observed for chromium and zinc ion absorption. The obtained results showed that accumulated Cr ions values are above the limits defined in the Brazilian legislative norm on food.

External PIGE-PIXE measurements at the São Paulo 8UD tandem accelerator

Abstract An external PIGE–PIXE setup was installed on a beam line of the 8 MV tandem Pelletron accelerator of the Open Nuclear Physics Laboratory (LAFN). Proton beam energy was chosen in the 8–12 MeV range, sufficient to get an acceptable gamma ray yield but not so high as to prevent us from measuring X-rays. This also allowed the use of a thick aluminum exit window (0.5 mm) instead of the usual thin and sometimes fragile plastic windows. This external PIXE–PIGE system was used to analyze trace element concentrations in the enamel of human and animal teeth. The main interest was to find compatible human teeth substitutes for dentistry laboratory practice and chemical tests. In spite of their morpho-histological similarity, trace element concentrations in human and animal teeth have not yet been compared. Teeth from humans, cattle and swine collected primary at Sao Paulo region were analyzed. The elements Cu, K, Zn, Fe, Ti, Sr, V, Mn and Zr were detected by high energy external beam PIXE technique. Though preliminary, the results showed that the trace element concentrations observed in the enamel of human and swine are more similar to each other than to cattle teeth.

High-spin states in 137Nd: A large variety of collective rotations

Abstract The high-spin structure of 137Nd has been studied through the 110Pd(30Si,3n) and the 123Sb(19F,5n) reactions at beam energies of 125 and 97 MeV, respectively. A very complex level scheme has been established up to spin 97 2 + and 23.9 MeV of excitation energy. Regular bands are observed at high-spin, consisting of either M1 and E2 crossover transitions, or of stretched M1 or E2 transitions. Calculations have been performed in the framework of the interacting boson-fermion model with broken pairs for the relatively strong ΔI = 1 regular structures observed above spins 27 2 − and 31 2 − , which are well described by the (νh 11 2 ) 3 and νh 11 2 ⊗(πh 11 2 ) 2 configurations, respectively.

Assessment of metal sorption mechanisms by aquatic macrophytes using PIXE analysis

In this work, a study of the metal sorption mechanism by dead biomass has been performed. All batch metal biosorption experiments were performed using the aquatic macrophyte Egeria densa as biosorbent. Divalent cadmium and zinc solutions were used to assess the sorption mechanisms involved. Using a suitable equilibrium time of 2h and a mixture of 300 mg biosorbent and 50 mL metal solution at pH 5, monocomponent sorption experiments were performed. In order to determine the residual amounts of metals in the aqueous solutions and the concentrations of removed metals in the dry biomass, Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) measurements in thin and thick target samples were carried out. Based on the strong experimental evidence from the mass balance among the major elements participating in the sorption processes, an ion exchange process was identified as the mechanism responsible for metal removal by the dry biomass.

Surface interactions of a W-DLC-coated biomedical AISI 316L stainless steel in physiological solution

The corrosion stability of a W-DLC coated surgical AISI 316L stainless steel in Hanks’ solution has been evaluated. Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) measurements were performed to evaluate the incorporation of potentially bioactive elements from the physiological solution. The film structure was analyzed by X-ray diffractometry and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The wear behavior was assessed using the sphere-on-disc geometry. The in vitro biocompatibility of the W-DLC film was evaluated by cytotoxicity tests. The corrosion resistance of the stainless steel substrate decreased in the presence of the PVD layer. EIS measurements suggest that this behavior was closely related to the corrosion attack through the coating pores. PIXE measurements revealed the presence of Ca and P in the W-DLC film after immersion in Hanks’ solution. This result shows that the PIXE technique can be applied to identify and evaluate the incorporation of bioactive elements by W-DLC films. The film showed good wear resistance and biocompatibility.

SR-TXRF detection limit reduction using thin polymer film substrates

Three different substrates for the analysis of liquid samples by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence with Synchrotron Radiation (SR-TXRF) were investigated and compared: Lucite (Perspex), Kimfoil and Mylar. Dry targets were prepared by pipetting 5 „l aliquotes of the liquid samples (synthetic standards and fresh water samples) on the different substrates. A five fold reduction of the continuous background and a corresponding reduction of the elementary detection limits were observed when thin polymer film substrates were used instead of the common thick Perspex substrate.