This dissertation contributes to the crystal chemistry of Te. The primary goals of the thesis are synthesis and crystal structure analysis of new Te-bearing ternary phases. The first part of the thesis shows significance of experimental mineralogy in research of Te containing systems. It briefly describes a novel approach to the study of new mineral species - the possibility of using synthetic analogues for their detailed mineralogical characterization. The results of the experimental mineralogical study in the Ni-Sb-Te ternary system at 400řC are reported in the second part. According to the performed experiments, two solid solutions λ1- Ni(Sb1-xTex)1+y (0<x<1, where 109.09.0 ≤≤⇒≥≈∀ yx ) and λ2 - NiSb1-xTe2x (0.28<x<0.66) dominate the system at 400řC. A characteristic feature of most phases present in the Ni-Sb-Te system at 400řC is apparent tendency to the Sb - Te substitution. The third part deals with the characterisation of the new mineral pašavaite Pd3Pb2Te2, which was found at the Noril'sk-Talnakh Ni-Cu camp, Russia. The synthetic Pd3Pb2Te2 phase was used for thorough mineralogical characterization of this new mineral species. Pašavaite displays orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pmmn. The structural identity between natural grains and synthetic Pd3Pb2Te was supported by the EBSD study. The...

The presented thesis deals with UV-photochemical generation of volatile compounds of Se and Te from various species. The aim of the project was to expand the current state of knowledge by the application of photocatalytic reduction of higher oxidation states of Se and Te for the speciation analysis based on UV-photochemical generation of volatile compounds. The first step of the study was the assembly of the apparatus for the photocatalysed UV-photochemical generation of volatile compounds. The material of reactor and the whole experimental set-up were based on literature survey and previous research done in our research group. Experiments were directed towards finding the optimum conditions for generation of volatile compounds of selected model elements Se and Te. Se was studied as the element most commonly determined by the UV-photochemical generation of volatile compounds. Conversely, Te was selected as a model analyte representing elements forming less stable volatile compounds. The second part was the application of the optimised method of photocatalysed UV- photochemical generation of volatile Se compound to the determination of Se in water matrices, liquid certified reference materials and also samples of dietary supplements. TiO2/UV-photochemical generation was also successfully modified to...