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Volatilization of Sulfur in Fusion Techniques for Preparation of Discs for X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

James W. Baker
James W. Baker*
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey Box 25046, MS 928, Denver, Colorado 80225
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Extract

The fusion technique for sample preparation for x-ray fluorescence analysis has been proven very successful for a wide variety of sample types. An inherent problem in the fusion technique has been the loss of sulfur during the fusion process. To extend our quantitative major element analysis method for geologic materials we have examined the problem of sulfur volatilization and have tested a variety of fluxes to determine their suitability to quantitatively retain sulfur during fusion, to produce a homogeneous glass disc that is suitable for presentation to an x-ray spectrometer with no additional sample preparation, and to help protect platinumware from attack by sulfide minerals.

Highly oxidizing conditions are necessary both to retain sulfur and to protect platinumware from sulfide attack. Previous researchers have shown that sulfur may be lost under reducing conditions. All of the fusions in this study were performed in an oxidizing environment, using a muffle furnace.

Type
II. XRF Methods: Practical, Mathematical
Information
Advances in X-Ray Analysis , Volume 25: Thirtieth Annual Conference on Applications of X-ray Analysis, August 3-7, 1981 , 1981 , pp. 91 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1981

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References

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