Determination of 14 Major and Minor Elements in Dust Ash by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry with Powder-Pelleting-Lined Boric Acid Preparation

Abstract

BACKGROUND The high content of potassium, sodium, zinc, and chlorine in dust ash significantly affects the stable operation of converter. To recycle the dust ash, it is necessary to accurately determine the contents of the components. Dust ash contains a broad range of potassium, sodium, zinc, and chlorine; therefore, the traditional X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) exceeds the range of the work curve. OBJECTIVES To develop a method for the determination of 14 components in the dust ash with a broad concentration range of potassium, sodium, zinc, and chlorine. METHODS Standard reagents of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and zinc oxide were added to commercially available iron ore standards in a quantitative manner to provide a new series of calibration samples with wide ranges of potassium, sodium, zinc, and chlorine contents. The 14 components in the dust ash were determined by XRF spectrometry with a powder-pelleting-lined boric acid preparation. RESULTS The measurement ranges of potassium, sodium, zinc, and chlorine were 1.36%-12.00%, 0.43%-6.85%, 0.24%-35.00%, and 0.25%-10.00%, respectively. The results of the 14 components in the dust ash were consistent with those of the traditional method, yielding a relative standard deviation of < 5.2% (n=7). CONCLUSIONS XRF spectrometry with the powder-pelleting-lined boric acid preparation showed good accuracy and precision during the determination of 14 components in the dust ash.

Keywords

• dust ash
• major and minor elements
• boric acid
• powder pelleting perpetration
• x-ray fluorescence spectrometry