Microwave-Assisted Quantitative Determination of Trace Rare Earth Elements in Zirconia and Zirconium Alloys by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Validation of Separation Procedure by Standard Addition and Tracer Techniques

作者：Deb S B; Nagar B K; Saxena M K^*; Ramakumar K L

来源：Atomic Spectroscopy, 2010, 31(4): 122-133.

An analytical method has been developed for the quantification of trace amounts of rare earth elements in a zirconium matrix (ZrO(2), Zircaloy-2, and Zirconium - 1% Niobium) by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Rare earth elements were quantitatively separated from the zirconium matrix by precipitation using Mandelic acid followed by solvent extraction. The analytical methodology was validated by recovery studies with standard addition as well as with an independent gamma spectrometry technique using (141)Ce, (147)Nd, and (152+154)EU tracers.
Recoveries of >90% were achieved for nine rare earth elements in both techniques. The percentage relative standard deviations (N=10) of these determinations were 8.0, 8.0, 6.0, 6.0, 8.0, 6.0, 6.0, 6.0, and 8.0 for La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Yb, and Lu, respectively. The three sigma detection limits (N=10) for La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Yb, and Lu were 1.12, 0.86, 0.93, 0.87, 0.95, 0.89, 0.98, 0.95, and 0.91 mu g Kg(-1), respectively.

• 出版日期2010-8