Determination of Chromite by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry with Sample Preparation of a Lower-Dilution Fusion

Abstract

Chromite analysis is dominated by chemical analysis, which is a wel-established but complicated procedure. Chromite can also be analysed by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), however, a high-dilution fusion is not conducive to low content elements. In this paper, a method is reported for the determination of multi-elements (Cr, Si, Al, TFe, Mg, Ca and Mn) in chromite by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry with a low-dilution fusion for Li2B4O7 and LiBO2-mixed flux (20:1 reagent to sample). Also discussed in this paper is the effective flux of molten chromite. The working curve was established by a variety of chromite standard substances and manual preparation of standard materials. The inter-element effect was corrected by using the theoretical alpha coefficient with Compton scattered radiation. The results are consistent with the certified values and RSD (n=10) range from 0.2% to 5.3%. The detection limit of Mn is 60 μg/g. The detection limit of Mn by this method is as low as 225 μg/g which is lower than the previous reported limit of 250 μg/g reported elsewhere. By selecting the effective flux and low dilution ratio, the problem of chromite sample preparation has been solved, which reduces the amount of flux, increases the sample weight, improves the analysis accuracy for low content elements and reduces the cost of analysis.

Keywords

• chromite
• x-ray fluorescence spectrometry
• fusion sampling
• 20: 1 of dilution ratio