Rapid determination of twenty-two components in polymetallic nodule and cobalt-rich crusts by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with pressed powder pellet
LI Qiang, ZHANG Xue-hua
Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, China
Abstract：A method has been introduced for the field determination of Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, S, Cl, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, V, Sr, Zr, Ba, Ce and Y of polymetallic nodule and cobalt-rich crusts in the Pacific Ocean by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) coupled with directly pressed powder sample preparation technique. The calibration curve was established with national certified reference materials, calibration samples made from national standard sample and calibration samples certified by other methods, adressing the shortage of nodule and crusts standard sample. The measuring conditions of 22 components were optimized, and the interference from major components including SiO2, CaO, Fe and Mn was corrected by the methods of empirical coefficient. The detection limit of the described method was 10.5-733 μg/g. The results of precision test indicated that the relative standard deviations (RSD, n=7) were 0.56%-7.7%. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of actual samples, the results were consistent with those obtained by other methods in laboratory, which is appropriate for rapid determination of multi-components in field.
