Elemental composition and metal pollution in Egyptian Red Sea mangrove sediments: Characterization and origin

The present work was conducted to characterize the mangrove sediments along the Egyptian Red Sea in terms of elemental composition and to assess the extent of pollution and its sources. A total of 26 samples of mangrove sediments were collected from three different areas: Sharm El Madfea, Sowmaa Mangrove and Abu Fasi. The samples were analyzed using the inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry ICP-MS and atomic-emission spectrometry ICP-AES. Mass fractions of a total of 58 major and trace elements were determined in the mangrove samples. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to determine the origin of trace and major elements in the mangrove sediments. The normalized values show that the elements above the background can be indicated in descending order as follows: P > Cd > Sr > Ca > U > Se > As > Sn > Cu > Sb > Pb > Mo > Ag. Several pollution indices were also calculated. Principal component analysis revealed three clusters of the studied sediment samples. The analysis of the ratio indicators shows that the origin of the sediments mostly falls near continental island arcs (CIA). The pollution indices show remarkable pollution levels and enriched elements. The data obtained can serve as baseline data for the sediments of the mangrove environment and can be used to study possible changes in the future.

The influence of gamma radiation on organic compounds having carbon ring and its application in dosimetry

The formation of highly oxidizing radicals in multifunctional-solid compounds upon irradiation with gamma-ray had been investigated. Five organic compounds having a single carbon ring had been used in the present investigation; these materials are 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene, 4′-aminoacetophenone, 3′-hydroxyacetophenone, n-anthranilic acid, and triphenylmethane. These material were irradiated using 60Co radiation with different doses between 20 and 100 kGy. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy spotted increases of the resonance absorption having landé factor around 2.0113 ± 0.003 upon irradiation with the increasing of dose. This resonance absorption was related to the formation of long-lived oxygen radicals that were attached to one of the radiation synthesized compounds. The method of infrared absorption spectroscopy emphasized the formation of cyclic and aliphatic hexane in addition to the active oxygen radicals. n-Anthranilic acid was found to be suitable for radiation the dosimetry with long-lasting radiation signature as electron spin and also to determine the exposure dose. The time-lapse infrared and electron spin resonance measurements had been used to tracked the formation of active species within the time-lapsed after the end of exposure; results showed that the dosimetric signature may be used as a tracker for the time when the exposure happens.

Equivalent width evaluation methods for Doppler, Lorentz, and Voigt profiles

An accurate technique has been developed to calculate the equivalent width of absorption lines. The calculations have been carried out for the pure Doppler and pure Lorentz limiting forms of the equivalent width. A novel expression for the equivalent width for Lorentz profile is given from direct integration of the line profile. The more general case of a Voigt profile leads to an analytical formula that permits a rapid estimate of the equivalent width for a wide range of maximum optical depths. The reliability of the approach is verified using a numerical application calculating the equivalent width for nickel resonance lines at 232.0 and 352.3 nm from atomic absorption (AA) measurements. The dependence of equivalent width on the number density of absorbing atoms is also provided. The results obtained for the equivalent width for the Voigt profile were compared with the data in the available literature obtained by different approaches.