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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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What’s in your Dubai chocolate? Nuclear scientists test pistachios for toxins
For the uninitiated, Dubai chocolate is a candy bar filled with pistachio and tahini cream and crispy pastry recently popularized by social media influencers. While it’s easy to dismiss as a viral craze now past its peak, the nutty green confection has spiked global pistachio demand, and growers and processors are ramping up production. That means more pistachios need to be tested for aflatoxins—a byproduct of a common crop mold.
R. E. Thoma, C. F. Weaver, H. bisley and H. A. Friedman
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 19 | Number 4 | August 1964 | Pages 406-411
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE64-A18996
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The equilibrium phase diagram of the condensed system NaF/BeF2/ThF4 is presented. Liquid/solid phase transitions were found in the temperature range from ∼300 to 1100 C. The phase diagram of the system is based on data obtained from thermal analysis and thermal-gradient-quenching experiments; phase identifications were made employing the polarizing light microscope and the x-ray diffractometer. Thirteen crystalline phases are precipitated as primary phases from molten NaF/BeF2/ThF4 solutions: 4NaF-ThF4, 7NaF·2ThF4, 2NaF·ThF4, 3NaF·2ThF4, α- and β -NaF·ThF4, NaF-2ThF4, 2NaF·BeF2, NaF·BeF2, NaF·BeF2, ·3ThF4, NaF, BeF2, and ThF4 solid solution. The character, location, and temperature of the fourteen invariant and singular points in the system were established. The ternary system is comprised of two subsystems, NaF/2NaF·ThF4/2NaF·BeF2 and 2NaF·ThF4/ThF4/BeF2/2NaF·BeF2, separated by the quasibinary section, 2NaF·BeF2/2NaF·ThF4. The lowest liquidus temperatures in the respective subsystems were found at the eutectics, 72NaF/22BeF2/6ThF4 (mole %), m.p. 509 C, and at 55NaF/43BeF2/2ThF4 (mole %), m.p. 320 C.
