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News from the Lab  Articles Online  Analytical Quick Tip  IV Line Humor  Elemental Analysis of Zeolites

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Three ISO Accreditations
For almost a decade, Inorganic Ventures has been accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 17025, ISO/IEC Guide 34, and ISO Guide 9001:2000. Recently, our laboratory was audited by both A2LA and QMI and our scopes and certifications were reissued. Details »

Prepare single element standards over the anticipated working range for each element. The range of standards depends upon the analytical requirements. The following ranges are suggestions only:

• Radial view ICP-OES: 0.0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 µg/mL
• Axial view ICP-OES: 0.0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL
• Quadrupole (R~ 300) mass filtered ICP-MS: 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 ng/mL

The elelmental analysis of zeolites for their major and minor components requires a sample preparation approach that will dissolve a wide variety of elements without volatilization or precipitation losses. The first of the two main approaches taken by the analytical community has been to perform a fusion with a mixture of lithium tetraborate / lithium carbonate followed by dissolution of the fuseate with dilute nitric acid. The second approach is to perform a digestion of the sample with aqua regia followed by dissolution in cold hydrofluoric acid (< 5°C) and chelation of the excess HF with boric acid.

Both preparations are followed by measurement using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. (ICPES). These procedures, which are state-of-the-art for quantitative zeolites elemental analysis, each required 1+ hours of sample preparation time and suffer from measurement problems associated with high solids containing solutions, such as torch and nebulizer fouling, high dilution factors, high Si blanks, and poor detection limits (approximately 100 ppm).

There is a procedure for the elemental analysis of zeolites that has reduced the sample preparation down to the time it takes to weigh the sample, add reagents, and shake. This procedure has also eliminated the measurement problems associated with solutions containing high solids. Click here for details.

Articles Online  more articles »

Sample Preparation Guide: Barium and Strontium  · NEW ·
This next installment of our Sample Preparation Guide features detailed preparation tips for samples containing barium (Ba) as well as samples containing strontium (Sr).

HF in Multi-element Standards  · NEW ·
Trace amounts of HF are used with certain elements in multi-element standards. But how much HF is used? Dr. Gaines explains.

ICP Operations Guide  · COMPLETE ·
A clear 16-part online guide intended for anyone preparing samples and standards for measurement using ICP. Topics cover many day-to-day tasks required by all operators.

Reliable Measurements: A Guidebook for Trace Analysts  · COMPLETE ·
An essential 17-part online guide for chemical analysts. Topics cover all phases of sample collection, preparation, measurement, and data analysis.

IV Line Humor  more humor »

Q: What do you call a clown who's in jail?
A: A silicon!
—submitted by Akshar Gupta, Poughkeepsie NY