42 research outputs found

    Calibration techniques and modifiers for the determination of Cd, Pb and Tl in biodiesel as microemulsion by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

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    Different calibration approaches and modifiers were tested for Cd, Pb and Tl determination in biodiesel by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). Microemulsions were prepared by mixing 2 g of biodiesel, 1 mL of a 10% (v/v) nitric acid aqueous solution and n-propanol to a 10 mL final volume. Pyrolysis temperatures of 600 °C for Cd and Tl with Pd as permanent modifier, and 800 °C for Pb with Ru as permanent modifier were used. Atomization temperatures were also optimized. Calibration solution prepared in aqueous medium did not correct non-spectral interferences, but matrix matching calibration using base oil led to accurate results with recoveries from 80 to 116%. The RSD values were lower than 8% for Cd and Pb and the LOD values were 0.5 ng g-1 for Cd, 6 ng g-1 for Pb and 1 ng g-1 for Tl. The obtained results using the analyte additions method or by matrix matching calibration were in agreement, confirming the accuracy of the proposed procedure. Organometallic standards were not required and different samples were analyzed

    Discontinuity detection in the shield metal arc welding process.

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    This work proposes a new methodology for the detection of discontinuities in the weld bead applied in Shielded Metal ArcWelding (SMAW) processes. The detection system is based on two sensors?a microphone and piezoelectric?that acquire acoustic emissions generated during the welding. The feature vectors extracted from the sensor dataset are used to construct classifier models. The approaches based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers are able to identify with a high accuracy the three proposed weld bead classes: desirable weld bead, shrinkage cavity and burn through discontinuities. Experimental results illustrate the system?s high accuracy, greater than 90% for each class. A novel Hierarchical Support Vector Machine (HSVM) structure is proposed to make feasible the use of this system in industrial environments. This approach presented 96.6% overall accuracy. Given the simplicity of the equipment involved, this system can be applied in the metal transformation industries

    A hole inversion layer at the BiVO4/Bi4V2O11 interface produces a high tunable photovoltage for water splitting

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    The conversion of solar energy into hydrogen fuel by splitting water into photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) is an appealing strategy to store energy and minimize the extensive use of fossil fuels. The key requirement for efficient water splitting is producing a large band bending (photovoltage) at the semiconductor to improve the separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. Therefore, an attractive method consists in creating internal electrical fields inside the PEC to render more favorable band bending for water splitting. Coupling ferroelectric materials exhibiting spontaneous polarization with visible light photoactive semiconductors can be a likely approach to getting higher photovoltage outputs. The spontaneous electric polarization tends to promote the desirable separation of photogenerated electron- hole pairs and can produce photovoltages higher than that obtained from a conventional p-n heterojunction. Herein, we demonstrate that a hole inversion layer induced by a ferroelectric Bi4V2O11 perovskite at the n-type BiVO4 interface creates a virtual p-n junction with high photovoltage, which is suitable for water splitting. The photovoltage output can be boosted by changing the polarization by doping the ferroelectric material with tungsten in order to produce the relatively large photovoltage of 1.39?V, decreasing the surface recombination and enhancing the photocurrent as much as 180%.Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (Capes)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq
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