Mössbauer Study of El-Bahrain Meteorite

Procedures for the determination of traces of rare earth elements (REE) in geological samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and high resolution liquid chromatography (HPLC) are presented. The international standard reference materials AGV-1, GSP-1 and G-2 (USGS) were tested for the determination of REE concentrations using both techniques. The results obtained showed good agreement with certified values, giving relative errors less than 10%. By using INAA, the REE La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb and Lu were determined. All the REE, except Dy and Y, were determined when HPLC was employed. The application of INAA and HPLC to the determination of REE in geological samples is also discussed.     

端视ICP－AES系统分析性能研究──Ⅰ．在稀土分析中的应用

本工作通过比较端视与侧视ＩＣＰ的分析性能，研究了端视ＩＣＰ系统对稀土元素的分析特性。高频发生器输出功率与载气流量对端视与侧视ＩＣＰ激发特性的影响没有明显差异，取光方式的不同是二者分析性能差异的根本原因。端视ＩＣＰ由于取光时避开了产生连续背景的环形热区和截取了整个中心通道的光谱，其背景减小，谱线强度增强，获得较好的测定下限。对１４种稀土元素测定下限的比较表明：端视ＩＣＰ比铡视ＩＣＰ下降１０－３０倍。     

端视ICP-AES系统分析性能研究──Ⅰ．在稀土分析中的应用

本工作通过比较端视与侧视ICP的分析性能，研究了端视ICP系统对稀土元素的分析特性。高频发生器输出功率与载气流量对端视与侧视ICP激发特性的影响没有明显差异，取光方式的不同是二者分析性能差异的根本原因。端视ICP由于取光时避开了产生连续背景的环形热区和截取了整个中心通道的光谱．其背景减小，谱线强度增强，获得较好的测定下限。对14种稀土元素测定下限的比较表明：端视ICP比铡视ICP下降10-30倍。     

Separation and preconcentration of the rare-earth elements and yttrium from geological materials by ion-exchange and sequential acid elution

The abundance of rare-earth elements (REE) and yttrium in geological materials is generally low, and most samples contain elements that interfere in the determination of the REE and Y, so a separation and/or preconcentration step is often necessary. This is often achieved by ion-exchange chromatography with either nitric or hydrochloric acid. It is advantageous, however, to use both acids sequentially. The final solution thus obtained contains only the REE and Y, with minor amounts of Al, Ba, Ca, Sc, Sr and Ti. Elements that potentially interfere, such as Be, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Th, U, V and Zr, are virtually eliminated. Inductively-coupled argon plasma atomic-emission spectroscopy can then be used for a final precise and accurate measurement. The method can also be used with other instrumental methods of analysis.     

用草酸钙共沉淀法分离富集骨中稀土元素

采用草酸钾作沉淀剂 ,在 pH2时将骨中钙部分沉淀 ,通过草酸钙载体共沉淀富集骨中稀土元素。用分光光度法、同位素示踪法和中子活化法检验模拟样品中稀土元素富集效果。结果显示 ,当每 g钙的沉淀量为48mg时 ,微克量和纳克量的稀土元素共沉淀率达到90 %以上。方法简单、可靠 ,且避免了钙、磷和钠等宏量元素的干扰 ,可对0.5～5g骨样中的稀土元素进行有效的分离富集。     

Determination of rare earth elements in environmental matrices by sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

In the framework of an international certification campaign, sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sector-field ICP-MS) was used for the accurate determination of the rare earth elements in five candidate reference materials: aquatic plant, calcareous soil, mussel tissue, river sediment, and tuna muscle. All samples were taken into solution by use of microwave-assisted or mixed microwave-assisted / open beaker acid digestion. Subsequently, the samples were appropriately diluted and subjected to ICP-MS analysis. Except for Sc, all the elements involved were determined at low mass resolution (R = 300). For Sc, application of a higher resolution setting (R = 3,000) was required to separate the analyte signal from those of several molecular ions which gave rise to spectral overlap at low mass resolution. Some of the heavier REE can also suffer from spectral overlap attributed to the occurrence of oxide ions (MO+) of the lighter REE and Ba. This spectral overlap could be successfully overcome by mathematical correction. Matrix effects were overcome by use of two carefully selected internal standards, such that external calibration could be used. On each occasion, a geological reference material was analyzed as a quality-control sample and the reliability of all results obtained was additionally checked by means of chondrite normalization. For tuna muscle the content of all REE was below the limit of detection. For calcareous soil and river sediment, low to sub microg g(-1) values were observed, whereas the REE content of aquatic plant and mussel tissue was considerably lower (low to sub ng g(-1)). Overall, the results obtained were in excellent agreement with the average values, calculated on the basis of all "accepted" values, obtained in different laboratories using different techniques.     

Precise determination of rare earth elements in rocks by neutron activation analysis

A pre-irradiation group separation method has been developed for the neutron activation analysis of rare earth elements (REE) and Ba in silicate rocks. REE and Ba were quantitatively separated from other elements by cation exchange column method. The chemical yield of each separation was monitored with Pr added to the sample powder before decomposition. The accuracy and precision were tested by repeated analyses of JB-1 and one analysis of BCR-1. In addition, it was found that REE distribution in a granitic rock powder was inhomogeneous and therefore special care must be taken for the sampling of granitic rock powders.     

Determination of rare earth elements in environmental matrices by sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

In the framework of an international certification campaign, sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sector-field ICP–MS) was used for the accurate determination of the rare earth elements in five candidate reference materials: aquatic plant, calcareous soil, mussel tissue, river sediment, and tuna muscle. All samples were taken into solution by use of microwave-assisted or mixed microwave-assisted / open beaker acid digestion. Subsequently, the samples were appropriately diluted and subjected to ICP–MS analysis. Except for Sc, all the elements involved were determined at low mass resolution (R = 300). For Sc, application of a higher resolution setting (R = 3000) was required to separate the analyte signal from those of several molecular ions which gave rise to spectral overlap at low mass resolution. Some of the heavier REE can also suffer from spectral overlap attributed to the occurrence of oxide ions (MO⁺) of the lighter REE and Ba. This spectral overlap could be successfully overcome by mathematical correction. Matrix effects were overcome by use of two carefully selected internal standards, such that external calibration could be used. On each occasion, a geological reference material was analyzed as a quality-control sample and the reliability of all results obtained was additionally checked by means of chondrite normalization. For tuna muscle the content of all REE was below the limit of detection. For calcareous soil and river sediment, low to sub μg g^–1 values were observed, whereas the REE content of aquatic plant and mussel tissue was considerably lower (low to sub ng g^–1). Overall, the results obtained were in excellent agreement with the average values, calculated on the basis of all “accepted” values, obtained in different laboratories using different techniques.     

乌江流域沉积岩风化过程中稀土元素的富集与释放

以乌江流域石灰岩、白云质灰岩、白云岩、硅质岩、页岩和砂岩等沉积岩的13条风化剖面为对象，运用R型分层聚类分析和质量平衡计算方法，研究了这些岩石风化过程中稀土元素（REE）的富集与释放及其对植物生长和河水REE分布的影响，目的是为河水物质来源研究和为农业生产提供依据。结果表明：（1）乌江流域石灰土中REE的富集程度显著高于各自母岩、黄壤、上陆壳（UCC）、中国土壤（CS）和世界土壤（WS）；（2）沉积岩风化过程中REE的富集特征和机制可能与母岩中REE分布特征以及风化剖面中有机质、铁（氢）氧化物和粘土矿物的吸附有关；（3）沉积岩风化过程中释放的REE可为植物吸收利用；（4）石灰岩等沉积岩风化过程中REE和F。等元素的释放对河水溶解态REE的分布有重要影响。     

Rare earth elements determined in Antarctic ice by inductively coupled plasma--time of flight, quadrupole and sector field-mass spectrometry: An inter-comparison study

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a suitable tool for multi-element analysis at low concentration levels. Rare earth element (REE) determinations in standard reference materials and small volumes of molten ice core samples from Antarctica have been performed with an ICP-time of flight-MS (ICP-TOF-MS) system. Recovery rates for REE in e.g. SPS-SW1 amounted to ∼103%, and the relative standard deviations were 3.4% for replicate analysis at REE concentrations in the lower ng L⁻¹ range. Analyses of REE concentrations in Antarctic ice core samples showed that the ICP-TOF-MS technique meets the demands of restricted sample mass. The data obtained are in good agreement with ICP-Quadrupole-MS (ICP-Q-MS) and ICP-Sector Field-MS (ICP-SF-MS) results. The ICP-TOF-MS system determines accurately and precisely REE concentrations exceeding 5 ng L⁻¹ while between 0.5 and 5 ng L⁻¹ accuracy and precision are element dependent.     

Trace rare earth element analysis of IAEA Hair (HH-1), Animal Bone (H-5) and other biological standards by radiochemical neutron activation

A radiochemical neutron activation analysis using a rare earth group separation scheme has been used to measure ultratrace levels of rare earth elements (REE) in IAEA Human Hair (HH-1), IAEA Animal Bone (H-5), NBS Bovine Liver (SRM 1577), and NBS Orchard Leaf (SRM 1571) standards. The REE concentrations in Human Hair and Animal Bone range from 10^–8 g/g to 10^–11 g/g and their chondritic normalized REE patterns show a negative Eu anomaly and follow as a smooth function of the REE ionic radii. The REE patterns for NBS Bovine Liver and Orchard Leaf are identical except that their concentrations are higher. The similarity among the REE patterns suggest that the REE do not appear to be fractionated during the intake of biological materials by animals or humans.     

Cyanex 923 as the extractant in a rare earth element impurity analysis of high-purity cerium oxide.

In this work, the feasibility of employing Cyanex 923 as an extractant into the non-cerium REE (rare earth elements) impurity analysis of high-purity cerium oxide was investigated. Through investigations on the choice of the extraction medium, the optimium extraction acidity, matrix Ce4+ effect on the non-cerium REE ion extraction, the optimium extractant concentration and suitable extracting time, and oscillation strengh, it was found that when the phase ratio was at 1:1 and the acicidity was about 2% H2SO4, by gently shaking by hand for about 2 min, 10 mL of 30% Cyanex 923 could not extract even for a 20 ng amount of non-cerium REE3+ ions. However, the extraction efficiency for Ce4+ of 100 mg total amount under the same conditions was about 96%, indicating that a 25-fold preconcentration factor could be achieved. Thus, it was concluded that Cyanex 923 could be used in a REE impurity analysis of 99.9999% or so pure cerium oxide for primary sepapation to elimilate matrix-induced interferences encountered in an ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy) determination.     

Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Acid Mine Drainage by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A method was developed for the direct determination of 14 naturally occuring rare earth elements (REE, La–Lu) by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in seepage waters caused by acid mine drainage. The analytical procedure includes the additional determination of oxide and hydroxide formation by Ba and REE. The determined polyatomic ion formation can be used to correct spectral interferences of oxides and hydroxides of Ba and the light REE on middle and heavy REE. The total REE content in the acidic seepage waters investigated is up to 220µgL^–1. The concentration of the REE normalized to Post Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) is shown, and fractionation of the REE is discussed. The PAAS-normalized REE-patterns feature an enrichment of middle and heavy REE as opposed to the light ones. For one seepage water sampled over a period of about half a year, the REE patterns show very high reproducibility. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated by the analysis of two water samples containing certified concentrations of REE.     

Rapid sample digestion by fusion and chemical separation of Hf for isotopic analysis by MC-ICPMS

A new method for rapid sample digestion and efficient chemical separation of Hf and REE from rock samples for precise isotopic analysis is presented. Samples are digested by fusion in the presence of a lithium borate flux at 1100 °C and dissolved whilst molten in dilute nitric or hydrochloric acid. Prior to chemical separation using ion exchange techniques, Li and B from the flux material and Si from the sample are separated from the remaining major elements, REE and high field strength elements (HFSE) in the sample by Fe-hydroxide co-precipitation. The chemical separation of Hf is a two-stage procedure designed to first remove the remaining matrix elements (e.g. Fe, Ba) in the sample using standard cation exchange techniques, followed by separation of Hf from the REE and HFSE on TEVA extraction chromatographic resin. Hf yields are >90% and total procedural blanks are ca. 50 pg. Hf isotope ratios of a synthetic standard solution and replicate digestions of international rock standards BHVO-1 and BCR-1 measured on multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS) reproduce similarly to ≤50 ppm (2 S.D.). The following elemental ratios are routinely obtained for elements, which interfere isobarically or may affect the ionisation and/or fractionation behaviour of Hf during analysis: ¹⁷⁶Yb/¹⁷⁶Hf<0.0001; ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁶Hf<0.00001; Ti/Hf<0.05. This technique also provides a means of separating Nd from the REE fraction for isotopic analysis and, potentially, may be adapted for measurement of Lu/Hf ratios by isotope dilution techniques.     

Neutron activation analysis investigations in updating REE composition of gabbro GOG-1 reference sample: A comparison with SIMS and ICP-AES data

An updata REE measurement of gabbro GOG-1 was carried out by means of neutron activation analysis (NAA). The availability of high amounts of rock powder allowed the sample to be well ground and homogenized before analysis. Homogeneity tests, carried out on different aliquots, show that GOG-1 samples can be considered homogeneous when over 50 mg aliquots of rock powder are employed for analytical work. Results from ICP-AES and SIMS investigations of REE in gabbro GOG-1 are in quite good agreement with NAA data and support the possibility of employing GOG-1 rock samples as reference material for geoanalysis.     

Determination of rare earths in lanthanum oxide by inductively-coupled plasma emission derivative spectrometry

Rare-earth elements (REE) at ppm levels in lanthanum oxide can be determined without prior separation and preconcentration by use of high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma emission derivative spectrometry (ICPEDS). The calibration graphs are all linear and pass through the origin, even in the presence of large amounts of lanthanum, except those for dysprosium, holmium and ytterbium. The detection limit for each REE is 1-10 mug g in lanthanum oxide. Investigation of various physical and/or spectral interferences shows that good selectivity is obtained by ICPEDS.     

Unusual interrelationship between care earth element and calcium contents in fern leaves

Since the rare earth elements (REE) are most informative as isomorphic replacements of Ca²⁺ in organisms, we analyzed these elements in 142 fern leaves collected from several sampling sites in Japan by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and the correlation between the REE and Ca contents was examined. In most cases, between any particular REE and the Ca contents, the correlation in the logarithmic scattering diagram was expressed as a single line parallel to the vertical (Y) axis. However, the detailed analysis of the diagrams characterized with respect to the sampling site revealed that the 142 ferns could be separated into two or three groups on the basis of their different REE/Ca ratios. The sampling sites where the different REE/Ca ratios were observed completely agreed with those found in the preceding report, i.e., regarding the unusual correlation between Eu and the other REEs. The present work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Japan.     

Peculiarities of the synthesis and thermolysis of heterometallic coordination compounds used as precursors for nickelates of rare-earth elements

The influence of the solvent on the composition of solid products is investigated using the example of the interaction of rare-earth element (REE) nitrates, Ln(NO₃)₃, with square-planar complexes of nickel and Schiff bases, Ni(SB). The composition of solid products is determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis and elemental analysis. It is shown that from the labile Ln(NO₃)₃-Ni(SB) systems, individual heterometallic compounds can be obtained, moreover, if in systems there are complexes with more dentate Ni(mosalen) ligands, only binuclear heterocomplexes can be produced. In case of Ni(salen) ligand, the formation of trinuclear complexes is achieved by selecting the optimal solvent. Among the considered compounds, binuclear complexes are of special interest due to the possibility of their use as precursors of REE nickelates.     

Determination of rare earths in low grade uranium ores and SRM-rock by instrumental neutron activation analysis

An instrumental neutron activation analysis technique has been developed for simultaneous determination of 10 REE in low grade U/Zr ores and other geological materials. The samples were irradiated with reactor neutrons for 2 min to 8 hrs followed by a cooling of 30 min to 3 weeks. The γ-ray activity was measured with a semi-planar Ge(Li) detector. A precision of 5% has been obtained by the repeated analysis of NBS-SRM. The technique is relatively simple and adaptable on the routine basis.     

Distribution pattern of rare earth ions between water and montmorillonite and its relation to the sorbed species of the ions.

REE (rare earth element) distribution coefficients (Kd) between the aqueous phase and montmorillonite surface were obtained to investigate the relation between the REE distribution patterns and the species of REE sorbed on the solid-water interface. It was shown that the features in the REE patterns, such as the slope of the REE patterns, the tetrad effect, and the Y/Ho ratio, were closely related to the REE species at the montmorillonite-water interface. In a binary system (REE-montmorillonite) below pH 5, three features (a larger Kd value for a lighter REE, the absence of the tetrad effect, and the Y/Ho ratio being unchanged from its initial value) suggest that hydrated REE are directly sorbed as an outer-sphere complex at the montmorillonite-water interface. Above pH 5.5, the features in the REE patterns, the larger Kd value for heavier REE, the M-type tetrad effect, and the reduced Y/Ho ratio, showed the formation of an inner-sphere complex of REE with -OH group at the montmorillonite surface. In addition, the REE patterns in the presence of humic acid at pH 5.9 were also studied, where the REE patterns became flat, suggesting that the humate complex is dominant as both dissolved and sorbed species of REE in the ternary system. All of these results were consistent with the spectroscopic data (laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy) showing the local structure of Eu(III) conducted in the same experimental system. The present results suggest that the features in the REE distribution patterns include information on the REE species at the solid-water interface.