Accuracy Research of Minerals with High Loss of Ignition during X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Semi-quantitative Analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND The SQX, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry semi-quantitative analysis software, was used to analyze an unknown sample. The software can analyze the range of 9F-92U elements, but cannot directly analyze the parameters such as H2O and C. Employing the balanced normalized calculation to test a special sample, such as bauxite with high loss of ignition and high crystalliferous water content, carbonate minerals with higher CO2 content, sulfide metal minerals with higher sulfur and carbon content, the analysis results for main elements like Al2O3, SiO2, CaO, MgO and Fe are largely affected by undetermined parameters resulting in low accuracy of semi-quantitative analysis data. OBJECTIVES To propose a new calibration mode through experimental research. METHODS The calibration mode quantitatively and selectively analyzes the parameters such as loss of ignition, crystalliferous water, carbon dioxide and sulfur of an unknown sample, based on the preliminary results of semi-quantitative analysis. By putting the quantitative analysis result into SQX, the new semi-quantitative analysis results were obtained by using the second equilibrium normalization calculation. RESULTS The experimental results show that the average accuracy of multi-element in bauxite, carbonate minerals and sulfide metal minerals was increased by 2.6 to 4.5 times using this calibration mode. CONCLUSIONS The method can quickly and accurately determine multi-element in minerals with high loss of ignition, including bauxite, carbonate minerals, and sulfide metal minerals.

Keywords

• bauxite
• carbonate minerals
• sulfide metal ore
• x-ray fluorescence spectrometry
• semi-quantitation