INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF ELECTRIC-ARCFURNACE FLUE DUSTS - OPTIMIZATION OF SAMPLE DISSOLUTION PROCEDURE

The goal of this work involves the improvement of a sample preparation methodology for ICP-MS analysis of electrical are furnace flue dusts. Acid mixtures-microwave oven digestion procedures were developed alon g with a conventional quantitative dissolution method, this consisting of dissolving the sample in acid and then melting the insoluble resid ue with an alkaline nux, these being evaluated as sample dissolution p rocedures for ICP-MS analysis of major, minor and trace elements in el ectrical are furnace flue dusts. Procedures were compared based on Zn, Fe, Pb, Si, Mg, Mn and Ca recovery. Data are presented for two flue d ust standard reference materials, ECSC 876-1 and Cupola 6201; results indicated that the recoveries of the metals are element and matrix dep endent. Although quantitative recoveries are not achieved for some of the elements, the microwave dissolution system is a good rapid turnaro und survey method capable of handling high sample throughputs. Suitabl e selection of the analyte isotopes and the use of appropriate instrum ent settings improve the analytical performance of ICP-MS, making it p ossible to determine major, minor and trace elements from the same tes t sample dilution. Results are presented for ECSC 876-1, electrical ar e furnace flue dust reference material.