Abstracto

Simultanious multielemental analysis of alumina process samples using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry

Upendra Singh, R.S.Mishra

A number of spectrometric techniques are in use, including flame photometry, furnace atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Selecting the most appropriate tool for the analysis of different raw materials, intermediate products and finished products in alumina refinery in India at trace level has become a difficult task for the laboratory chemists, especially since there is considerable overlap of capabilities. The elements such as Fe, Si, Ti, Pb,Mn,V, P, Ga Ca, Cd,Cu, Cr, Ni,Mg etc are detrimental to process for the production of alumina in refinery all over the world. Minor elements are present at very low level (<0.1%). The minor elements are not being able to determine by conventional wet chemicalmethods with high precision. The major constituents such asAl2O3, SiO2 Fe2O3 and TiO2 are present at very high concentration (upto 40 %) in BayerÂ’s process samples. In this paper, optimization of operating condition of analysis and sample preparation methodology, their significance has been studied. A comparative study of conventional (Wet Chemical-classical) and instrumental (ICP-modern) methods in the determination of major and trace elements for Indian bauxite, hydrate, red mud, BayerÂ’s liquor and product alumina have been discussed.