Direct determination of trace impurity yttrium in titantium oxide powder by fluorination assisted ETV-ICP-AES using slurry sampling

By using a polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) emulsion as fluorinating reagent, a method for fluorinating assisted eletrothermal vaporization (ETV)/ICP-AES direct determination of trace yttrium in TiO2 ceramic powder has been prop osed; the various facts which would affect the vaporization process between the matrix and the analyte were studied; the fluorinating vaporization beh avior of the matrix and the analyte both in slurry and in solution were inv estigated. Based on pre-separation between the matrix and the analyte, the matrix effect was reduced. On the optimum experiment conditions, the detect ion limit of the present method is 0. 26 mu g/L; and the RSD is 3. 8% (n = 5, c = 0. 5 mg/L). This method has been applied to directly determinate tra ce yttrium in two kinds of TiO2 powder without any chemical pretreatment.