Skip to main content
Log in

Applications of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy using an optical parametric oscillator to the study of complexation equilibria in dilute aqueous solutions

  • Analytical and Separations Chemistry of Actinides
  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A 30 Hz YAG laser pumped, narrow-line, optical parametric oscillator (OPO) has been used to investigate the chemical states of selected compounds in aqueous solution. The OPO system has the advantage that it can scan wavelengths over large ranges without significant loss of output power. The visible spectra of rare earth complexes in dilute aqueous solutions (as chemical analogs for the actinides) have been studied and preliminary qualitative results for erbium acetate complexes at the 100 micromolar level are in good agreement with literature data. Quantitative measurements of the protonation constant for phenol red at the 100 nanomolar level were measured. The particular implementation of the OPO system used in this work introduced a number of spectral artifacts due to optical signal overlap with near-infrared water absorption bands. In addition, it was demonstrated that the concentration limiting factor for photoacoustic spectroscopy is the intrisic absorption of water in the visible region of the spectrum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. A. Torres, C. E. A. Palmer, P. A. Baisden, R. E. Russo, R. J. Silva, Anal. Chem., 62 (1990) 298.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. R. Klenze, J. L. Kim, Radiochim. Acta, 44/45 (1988) 77.

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. V. Beitz, D. L. Bowers, M. M. Doxtader, V. A. Maroni, D. T. Reed, Radiochim. Acta, 44/45 (1988) 87.

    Google Scholar 

  4. P. M. Pollard, M. Liezers, J. W. McMillan, G. Phillips, H. P. Thomason, F. T. Ewart, Radiochim. Acta, 44/45, (1988) 95.

    Google Scholar 

  5. R. E. Russo, D. Rojas, P. Robouch, R. J. Silva, Rev. Sci. Instrum., 61 (1990) 3729.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. M. P. Neu, D. C. Hoffman, K. E. Roberts, H. Nitsche, R. J. Silva, Radiochim. Acta, 66/67 (1994) 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  7. C. D. Tait, D. E. Morris, J. M. Berg, S. A. Ekberg, W. H. Woodruff, Evaluation of Alternative Detection Schemes for Actinide Speciation Using Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, LA-UR-93-448, Los Alamos National Laboratory.

  8. S. Wood, C. Tait, D. Janecky, T. Constantopoulos, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 59 (1995) 24.

    Google Scholar 

  9. S. E. Harris IEEE Proceedings, 57 (1969) 2096.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Spectra Physics Manual.

  11. J. Kragten, G. Decnop-Weever, Talanta, 27 (1980) 1047.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. D. J. Leggett, Computational Methods for the Determination of Formation Constants, Plenum Press, New York, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  13. M. Meloun, J. Havel, E. Högfeldt, Computation of Solution Equilibria: A Guide to Methods in Potentiometry, Extraction, and Spectrophotometry, Holsted Press (J. Wiley and Sons), New York, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  14. E. P. Serjeant, B. Dempsey (Eds), Ionization Constants of Organic Acids, IUPAC Chemical Data Series #23, Pergamon Press, New York, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  15. M. R. Fisher, N. S. Nogar, Anal. Chem., 54 (1982) 2133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. D. A. Schurig, G. L. Klunder, M. A. Shannon, R. E. Russo, R. J. Silva, Rev. Sci. Instrum., 64 (1993) 363.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. C. K. N. Patel, A. C. Tam, Nature, 280 (1979) 304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. A. C. Tam, C. K. N. Patel, Appl. Opt., 18 (1979) 3348.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kinard, W.F., Hunter, D.B. & Clark, S.B. Applications of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy using an optical parametric oscillator to the study of complexation equilibria in dilute aqueous solutions. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 235, 11–16 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02385929

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02385929

Keywords

Navigation