Search USGSSearch

Geology topics

Frank Cuttitta

Publications and source records attributed to Frank Cuttitta.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Fluorometric study of the magnesium—Bissalicylidene-ethylenediamine aystem

Magnesium ions combine with bissalicylidene-ethylenediamine in slightly alkaline N,N′-dimethylformamide to form a highly fluorescent complex which serves for the determination of trace amounts of magnesium. The yellow complex fluoresces blue when irradiated with ultraviolet light. The chelate shows maximum fluorescence excitation at 355 mμ and has a fluorescence emission maximum at 439 mμ. A complex having a metal to ligand ratio of 1 to 1 is formed. The method is sensitive to 7 × 10 −6 μmole of magnesium per ml. The analysis of Bureau of Standards samples with the reagent showed excellent correlation between the fluorometric and spectrophotometric procedures

Analytical Chemistry

Spectrophotometric study of the magnesium-bissalicylidene-ethylenediamine system

Magnesium reacts with bissali-cylene-ethylenediamine in N,N′-dimethylformamide to yield a yellow complex. A spectrophotometric study was made on the reaction as used for the determination of trace amounts of magnesium. Maximum absorbance was obtained at 355 mμ when the solution contained 0.25 ml. of 0.5M isobutylamine per 25-ml. volume. A complex having a metal to ligand ratio of 1 to 1 is formed. The absorbance obeys Beer's law, and 3.8 × 10 -4 γ of magnesium per ml. can be detected if a 5-cm. light path is used. A value of 13,450 liter mole -1 cm. -1 was obtained for the molar absorptivity. The procedure of analysis is simple and results show a standard deviation of less than 1%

Analytical Chemistry

Rare earths in phosphorites: Geochemistry and potential recovery

Rare earths are but trace constituents of marine apatite. However, as millions of tones of such apatite are dissolved annually to make phosphoric acid, an opportunity exists for greatly increasing RE output as by-product of fertilizer production. New, complete, quantitative analysis of RE in representative apatite concentrates reveal that the potential for by-product RE equals current production. The RE assemblage in marine apatite is unusual, showing depletion in cerium and relative enrichment in the heavier lanthonons, a favorable distribution for RE technology and utilization.

Open-File Report

A photometric method for the estimation of the oil yield of oil shale

A method is presented for the distillation and photometric estimation of the oil yield of oil-bearing shales. The oil shale is distilled in a closed test tube and the oil extracted with toluene. The optical density of the toluene extract is used in the estimation of oil content and is converted to percentage of oil by reference to a standard curve. This curve is obtained by relating the oil yields determined by the Fischer assay method to the optical density of the toluene extract of the oil evolved by the new procedure. The new method gives results similar to those obtained by the Fischer assay method in a much shorter time. The applicability of the new method to oil-bearing shale and phosphatic shale has been tested.

Trace Elements Investigations