Fluorescence spectroscopy materials

Electron Microprobe A.na.Iysis, Electron microprobe analysis (ema) is a technique based on x-ray fluorescence from atoms in the near-surface region of a material stimulated by a focused beam of high energy electrons (7—9,30). Essentially, this method is based on electron-induced x-ray emission as opposed to x-ray-induced x-ray emission, which forms the basis of conventional x-ray fluorescence (xrf) spectroscopy (31). The microprobe form of this x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was first developed by Castaing in 1951 (32), and today is a mature technique. Primary beam electrons with energies of 10—30 keV are used and sample the material to a depth on the order of 1 pm. X-rays from all elements with the exception of H, He, and Li can be detected. 

Kazarian et al. [281-283] have used various spectroscopic techniques (including FUR, time-resolved ATR-FHR, Raman, UV/VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy) to characterise polymers processed with scC02. FTIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy have played an important role in developing the understanding and in situ monitoring of many SCF processes, such as drying, extraction and impregnation of polymeric materials. 

FBAs can also be estimated quantitatively by fluorescence spectroscopy, which is much more sensitive than the ultraviolet method but tends to be prone to error and is less convenient to use. Small quantities of impurities may lead to serious distortions of both emission and excitation spectra. Indeed, a comparison of ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence excitation spectra can yield useful information on the purity of an FBA. Different samples of an analytically pure FBA will show identical absorption and excitation spectra. Nevertheless, an on-line fluorescence spectroscopic method of analysis has been developed for the quantitative estimation of FBAs and other fluorescent additives present on a textile substrate. The procedure was demonstrated by measuring the fluorescence intensity at various excitation wavelengths of moving nylon woven fabrics treated with various concentrations of an FBA and an anionic sizing agent. It is possible to detect remarkably small differences in concentrations of the absorbed materials present [67]. 

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) and fluorescence spectroscopy can be integrated with chromatographic techniques especially in the study of ageing and degradation of terpenic materials. They can be used to study the transformation, depletion or formation of specific functional groups in the course of ageing. 

Materials. The nearly monodisperse atactic PMMA, which was used for the electron beam lithography and fluorescence spectroscopy studies, was obtained from Pressure Chemical. It has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 188,100 and Mw/Mn< 1.08. Pyrenedodecanoic acid (PDA) used in the fluorescence studies was obtained from Molecular Probes and used as supplied. Spectroscopic grade benzene purchased from J.T. Baker was used as the spreading solvent in the PMMA and PMMA/PDA solutions. 

Another advantage to examine these polyaers is that characterizations of ablated materials can be Bade possible by fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence is very sensitive, and such surrounding aicroenvironaental conditions around the it -chromophore as polarity and viscosity and chroaophore aggregation can be probed. 

It is now clear that in the absence of molecular oxygen most proteins phosphoresce in aqueous solutions at ambient temperature.(10) In this chapter we discuss the use of phosphorescence of tryptophan to study proteins, with emphasis on measurements at room temperature. Comparisons between phosphorescence and the more commonly used fluorescence spectroscopy are made. Comprehensive reviews of protein luminescence have been written by Longworth.(n 12 1 A discussion on the use of phosphorescence at room temperature for the study of biological materials was given by Horie and Vanderkooi.(13)... 

Brown and Bern (26) cinalyzed the elemental composition of four card room dusts using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Two of these were from filter cake material collected in two textile mills from which fine dusts (<20 ym) were separated by mechanical agitation (sonic sifting). The third sample was from filter cake material collected in a textile mill from which dust was removed by hexane washing followed by sonification of the bath, filtration and further sonification. The fourth sample came from dust collected on an electrostatic precipitator in a model card room. Results are shown in Table VI. 

The elemental composition of these plant parts measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy showed the major elements to be Ca, Hg, K, Cl, S, Si, and Al. The concentration of each of these elements is very similar for bract and leaf materials with Ca being the most abundant (3-4%). Stem and bur have similar elemental profiles but they differ considerably from bract amd leaf. 

Acid-digestion is often used with composts derived from municipal wastes, sewage and slurry, where toxic amounts of heavy metals may cause problems on the land to which they are applied. It is probably more convenient to determine total elements in soils by a benchtop X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) instrument. This only requires the soil to be ground, and several reference standards of a similar soil. A Reference Materials Catalogue, Issue 5, 1999, is available from LGCs Office of Reference Materials, Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 OLY, UK. Tel. -i-44 (0)20 8943 7565 Fax h-44 (0)20 8943 7554. 

Inasmuch as mineral matter has been defined broadly to include all inorganic elements in coals, the chemical characterization of mineral matter involves the determination of many elements. In general, chemical analyses of geological materials have progressed from the wet chemical methods to sophisticated instrumental methods. The major elements in the mineral constituents of coal, Si, Al, Ti, Ca, Mg, Fe, P, S, Na, K, are the same as those in silicate rocks and are often determined by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and flame photometry. 

Preparation of an ultrasonic slurry of the sample is occasionally used, as for example in the determination of cobalt, nickel and copper [200], selenium [39] and arsenic and antimony [40]. Extraction of leaves with a chloroform solution of xanthate completely extracted cadmium [41,103]. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a nondestructive method of analysing plant materials if they can be converted into a suitable form for presentation to the instrument. 

Sometimes a thorough examination of the artwork can determine authenticity. Forgers may use colors not available during the artist s life. Brushwork, themes, and techniques can be assessed. Unusual materials make a work suspect. Also, the usual methods can be applied to detect a forgery fluorescence, spectroscopy, X-rays, neutron activation analysis, radioactive dating and, more recently, digital analysis. 

Fluorescence spectroscopy as a means of judging process conditions in a polymerization reaction has been reported [48]. The authors optimized parameters such as the reactant ratio and catalyst amount to reach the smallest variability of material properties. The samples were deposited on a 96-micro reactor array and examined with a spectro-fluorometer during the reaction. 

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