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A Versatile X-Ray Fluorescence Method for the Analysis of Sulfur in Geologic Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

H. N. Elsheimer
Affiliation:
U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025
B. F. Fabbi
Affiliation:
U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025
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Abstract

Nonproportionality of X-ray fluorescence intensity vs. concentration of sulfur occurs in geologic materials prepared as ground samples. Samples containing sulfur as sulfate yield higher intensities than an equivalent amount of sulfur as the Sulfide. Although the intensity of free sulfur decreases markedly during a short exposure to X-rays in a vacuum, and sulfide intensities decrease over a much longer time period, sulfate intensities show no deterioration with time.

A fusion procedure utilizing a LiBO2-Ce(NH4)2(NO3)5 flux has been developed for geologic materials to oxidize all sulfur in a multiplicity of oxidation states to a single oxidation state, namely, the sulfate. The procedure is applicable over a wide range of concentrations (0.5 - 28 wt. % total sulfur) with a detection limit of 0.01%. A suite of chemically analyzed rocks containing both sulfides and Sulfates is used for standardization.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1973

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