Some constraints on the modelling using the uranium isotopes 238U and 234U for dating groundwaters from Guarany aquifer, South America

Groundwaters from the Guarany aquifer located at the South American continent and sampled at four wells with described geological sections in São Paulo State, Brazil, were chemically and isotopically analysed with two aims: to evaluate the quality of this important hydrological resource and to investigate the possibility of using the natural uranium isotopes 234U and 238U as a chronological tool, since the 234U/238U activity ratio and dissolved U content data in groundwater systems have generated models for dating purposes.

Magnetic properties of spinel-type oxides NiMn2-xMexO4

New materials, based on the well-known spinel compound NiMn 2O4, have been synthesized and characterized from the magnetic point of view. The manganese cation was partially substituted in the general formula NiMn2-xMexO4, by nonmagnetic and magnetic elements, such as Me = Ga, Zn, Ni and Cr (0 × 1). Prior to the determination of their magnetic properties, the non-substituted spinel NiMn2O4 was carefully characterized and studied as a function of the oxygen stoichiometry, based on the influence of the annealing atmosphere and quenching rate. The ferrimagnetic character was observed in all samples, with a paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition temperature T c stabilized at 110 K, and well defined long-range antiferromagnetic interactions at lower temperatures, which depend on the applied field and the substitute concentration. © 2006 Sociedad Chilena de Química.

Anelastic spectroscopy in superconducting oxides

Since the discovery of the high Tc superconductors, several works have been made about the different properties of these materials. Anelastic spectroscopy experiments are sensitive tools to the study of defects in solids and phase transitions. By this technique, we can distinguish the different types of atomic jumps that happen to different temperatures. The intensity of the peaks in the anelastic spectrum and the step in the torsional modulus are related with the concentration of the relaxing entities, and the position of the peaks is determined by its mobility. In this paper, the study on Bi and Sm based superconducting oxides was made by anelastic relaxation measurements using a torsion pendulum. The samples were submitted to successive thermal treatments in high vacuum, in the temperature range between 100 K and 650 K, heating rate about 1 K/min. For Bi based superconducting oxides the results shown two peaks, that were associated to interstitial oxygen mobility and to orthorhombic to monoclinic phase transition. For Sm based superconducting oxides the results shown a relaxation peak that was attributed to the jumps of the oxygen atoms in the inter-chains O1 and 05 of the lattice.

Influência do arcabouço hidroestratigráfico nas ocorrências de arsênio em águas subterrâneas ao longo do corredor termal do rio Uruguai (Argentina - Brasil - Uruguai)

The Thermal Corridor of Uruguay River is located in the triple border of Argentine, Brazil and Uruguay, and shows an intense economic thermal tourism activity, mainly based on groundwaters from Guarani Aquifer System (GAS). Recent studies have pointed out the occurrence of high concentrations of arsenic (>10 μg/L) in GAS groundwater in this area. The complex geological and hydrogeological framework in the area is associated to the Paraná Basin geological evolution south of the Assuncion-Rio Grande Arch; it encompass paleozoic marine sequences and continental sequences permian/eotriassic to mesozoic in age, which are covered by basaltic lavas of Serra Geral Formation. Iron oxide coatings have been described in sandstones of Buena Vista and Sanga do Cabral formations, which underlie GAS units. Arsenic occurrence is associated to sodium bicarbonate groundwater with pH values over 8.0. Arsenic is released to groundwater by desorption from iron oxides/hydroxides, as result of the higher pH of these waters, indicating that arsenic is released from the units that underlie GAS units. Increase in chromium and uranium concentrations are also related to high pH groundwaters, thus indicating special care on using groundwater from this region.

A study of the precursors and photoactivity of nanostructures of Ti oxides synthesized by the alkaline hydrothermal method

The present study describes the synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic potential of Ti oxide nanostructures of various morphologies and crystalline phases that were synthesized from 4 different precursors by the alkaline hydrothermal method. The materials were characterized by mainly X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Also, photocatalytic potential was assessed by rhodamine B photodegradation. The materials obtained from peroxytitanium complexes (PTCs) exhibited a strong dependence on the concentration of KOH ([KOH]) used for synthesis. The pre-formed sheets of the PTCs were critical to the formation of nanostructures such as nanoribbons, and they were also compatible with the rolling up process, which can be utilized to form structures such as nanorods, nanowires or nanotubes. In the rhodamine photodegradation tests, TiO2 anatase nanostructures with six-coor inated Ti were more effective than the titanate ones (five-coordinated), despite having a smaller surface area and fewer OH groups. The lower photoactivity of the titanates was attributed to the presence of five-coordinated titanium species (TiO5), which may act as electron-hole recombination centers. Furthermore, the material with a mixture of TiO2/titanate was shown to be promising for photocatalytic applications. © 2013 by American Scientific Publishers.

A comparison between neutron-fluence measurements using metal-activation monitors and standard glasses calibrated via thin uranium-fission monitors and via ηq method

The two fundamental approaches to fission-track dating involve either an explicit determination of the thermal neutron fluence (φ-method) or a calibration against age standards (ζ-method). The neutron fluence measurements are carried out with metal-activation monitors or with uranium-fission monitors, co-irradiated with the samples. Uranium-fission monitors consist of either a thin mono-atomic) film, or a thick fission source (standard uranium glass) irradiated against a muscovite external track detector. In this work, different techniques for performing neutron-fluence measurements were compared: based on thin-film calibration, based on thick-source calibration, and based on gamma spectrometry of co-irradiated metal monitors (Au, Co). The results suggest that more experiments are needed to make all calibrations consistent, including new measurements of the length of etched induced tracks in mica. Also the standard glass calibration carried out with thin films should be confirmed with a greater number of calibrating irradiations. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Geochemical and radioactivity characterization of rocks from the Rio Preto (Go) Project

The Rio Preto Project, developed by the extinct Brazilian nuclear state company, Nuclebrás, during the late 70s and early 80s, consisted of basic geological mapping and radiometric characterization by aerogeophysical gamma-ray spectrometry, without channel discrimination, of a surface area of 650 km2 located to the west of the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park on the northeastern of Goiás State, Brazil, including the confluence area of Claro and Preto Rivers. Additionally, the natural radioelements U, Th and 40K were determined by gamma-ray spectrometry in 300 rock samples from cores of the Rio Preto Project area. The tests were conducted at LABIDRO-Isotopes and Hydrochemistry Laboratory of the Departament of Petrology and Metallogeny (DPM) of the Institute of Geosciences and Exact Sciences, UNESP, in Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. This paper reports the results of petrographic characterization and chemical analyses of major oxides (SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, MnO, K2O, Na2O, CaO and P2O5) for all samples used to determine the natural radioelements present in the region. The organic matter content results obtained by colorimetry are also reported for selected cores of different lithotypes in order to investigate the possible relationship between graphite and the radioelements uranium and thorium. Finally, uranium content and 234U/238U activity ratio data for selected samples of schists and gneisses of the Lower Member of the Ticunzal Formation suggest the influence of weathering processes in the area. © 2012 Sociedade Brasileira de Geofísica.

Uranium deposition in bones of wistar rats associated with skeleton development

Sixty female Wistar rats were submitted to a daily intake of ration doped with uranium from weaning to adulthood. Uranium in bone was quantified by the SSNTD (solid state nuclear track detection) technique, and bone mineral density (BMD) analysis performed. Uranium concentration as a function of age exhibited a sharp rise during the first week of the experiment and a drastic drop of 70% in the following weeks. Data interpretation indicates that uranium mimics calcium. Results from BMD suggest that radiation emitted by the incorporated Uranium could induce death of bone cells. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

O método geocronológico do Pb-210 aplicado no estudo da taxa de sedimentação em uma porção da Bacia do Rio Atibaia (SP)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Radioelementos naturais na área do Projeto Rio Preto (GO)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Uranium-lead dating method at the Pará-Iso isotope geology laboratory, UFPA, Belém – Brazil

ABSTRACT: Analytical procedures for U-Pb isotope dilution analyses at the Pará-Iso isotope geology laboratory of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) are described in detail. The procedures are applied to zircon, titanite, rutile, apatite, columbite-tantalite and whole rock. Reagent preparation and chemical processing are done in clean-room conditions. Samples are dissolved using Teflon™ microcapsules in steel jacket Teflon™ Parr Instrument™ bomb or Teflon™ screw cap containers. U and Pb are separated using anion exchange AG 1x8 resin columns. Typical blanks for mineral sample amounts of 0.01 to 1.0 mg are less than 1 pg U and 20-30 pg Pb. Isotope analysis of the U and Pb from the same filament are carried out using a Finnigan MAT 262 mass-spectrometer in static and dynamic modes. The current analytical level is demonstrated on analyses of international standard zircon 91500 with three different ²³⁵U-²⁰⁵Pb and ²³⁵U-²⁰⁸Pb isotope tracers and whole rock standards. Results of analyses of two zircon samples are also presented.

Chemical modification of the surface of alumina with alkaline earth metal oxides using the polymeric precursor method for catalysis application

In this study, modifications of alumina surface with of alkaline earth metal oxides were studied, using the polymeric precursor method. The modified compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption and scanning electron microscopy. The catalytical properties of these new catalysts were evaluated for the transesterification reaction of babassu oil. It is observed that the transesterification reaction of babassu oil with methanol was successfully carried out using the modified alumina samples.

Iron oxides as proxies for characterizing anisotropy in soil CO2 emission in sugarcane areas under green harvest

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Iron oxides and quality of organic matter in sugarcane harvesting systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Recalibration of U-doped standard glasses through uranium thin film for neutron-fluence measurements

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)