Determination of impurities in graphite using synchrotron radiation based X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Determination of impurities namely Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Sr and Pb in graphite by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is described using microfocused synchrotron radiation. The internal standard and standard addition methodologies were adopted for quantification and the results were compared with tube-based X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Analysis of the results by the F and t-tests revealed their statistical equivalence. Synchrotron measurements improved the detection limits by an order of magnitude compared to the tube based technique. Cr and Zr, which were below the quantification limit in tube based technique, were also quantified by synchrotron based technique.
Determination of Elements in Acid Leaching of Graphite Using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
Graphite material is extremely undissolvable to be turned into chemical solutions, therefore sample preparation is a serious problem faced in the determination of elemental impurity content in a graphite material. In this work, The nondestructive approach of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is applied to determine the concentration of multi-element in a graphite material, by employing both the forth floating process and the acid treatment method to the local Indonesian graphite. The sample was irradiated in the Rabbit system of G.A. Sywabessy Multi-Purpose Reactor at Serpong, Indonesia. The precision of the analysis was evaluated using certified reference materials which were obtained good performance with the most of concentration value in the range of 3 < zheta score < -3. Eleven elemental (Al, Sb, Co, Cu, La, Mn, Sc, Na, W, V, and Zn) concentration were determined in the forth floating process of the graphite. The Cu elemental is the most content with the value of 60,8 mg/kg or about 90% of total concentration content in graphite. Followed by the Sb content with a value of 5,5 mg/kg (about 8% of total impurities content in graphite). The remaining 2% includes the intermediate and the minor content of other impurity elements. After the acid treatment, the total concentration of impurities contained in the graphite material drastically decreases from 6.7% w/w to about 0,1; 0.6; and 0.59 % w/w for treatment employing the HF,  HNO3+H2SO4,and HF+HCl+H2SO4 acid reagent, respectively. Cu element makes the largest contribution to reduce the concentration of impurities in graphite which decreased from 60,675 mg/kg to 1,088 mg/kg; 925 mg/kg and 835 mg/kg for HF, HNO3+H2SO4 and HF+HCl+H2SO4 acid reagent, respectively. In addition, Sb element concentration dropped dramatically from 5,514 mg/kg to 93 mg/kg using HF reagents. The other trace elements (As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Eu, Fe, Mg, Sm, and Th) were also identified in the acid reagent treated graphite sample which are suspected to derivates from the impurity reagent and or from contamination during the sample preparation. The treated HF for graphite was obtained the low purity grades approach for nuclear graphite.
An analytical approach to the design of electrodes in high-power, fast-transverse-flow CO2 lasers
Abstract Usually, the design of the electrodes of fast-transverse-flow CO 2 lasers relies more on experimental data than on theoretical analysis. Traditional systems sustain a stable, high-power discharge but the current distribution generates a peaked, non-uniform small-signal-gain pattern. We present a theoretical model suitable for the design of electrodes that achieves a quasi uniform gain distribution. The analysis, based on a two-temperature model and the gas-transport equations, computes the electron density that supports a flat gain pattern. Combining the desired electron density with the electron-balance equations, the model determines the required electric field. The results were used to design a new set of electrodes for a home-made fast transverse flow CO 2 laser. A stable, large volume discharge ( 4 × 8 × 90 cm 3 ) with very good uniformity was obtained. The resulting gain distribution was registered in a bi-dimensional map. The peak gain rose from 1.2 m - 1 , attained with the old electrode set, to 1.6 m - 1 with the new one and the gain showed a homogeneous profile.