Radiochemical neutron activation analysis of rare earth elements in peridotitic rocks

The understanding of the geochemistry of basalt petrogenesis and the nature of the upper mantle requires the examination of such rocks as peridotites which in many cases are thought to represent upper mantle material. The mineralogical composition of peridotitic rocks in such that they accommodate large proportions of such trace elements as the transition elements but very small amounts of the rare earths and hygromagmaphile elements. The last two groups are often able to provide a large amount of information leading to petrogenetic models. Owing to the extremely low concentrations of the REE in peridotitic rocks it is necessary to separate them from other elements which will interfere with their precise determination. We have used a radiochemical neutron activation analytical method which is adapted from various published methods. It involves a post-irradiation sample fusion, two separate ion-exchange chromatographic stages and finally a fluoride precipitation. The RNAA procedure is capable of providing very precise REE data for perioditic samples and we have used it for the analysis of such rocks from several geodynamic environments.     

Determination of rare-earth elements and yttrium in silicate rocks by sequential inductively-coupled plasma emission spectrometry

An ICP—AES method for determination of rare-earth elements (REE) and yttrium at trace levels in silicate rocks is described. The method involves decomposition of the rock sample by heating with a mixture of hydrofluoric and perchloric acid, followed by precipitation of the REE and Y as oxalates, with calcium as carrier. The oxalate precipitate is ignited to the oxide, which is then dissolved in dilute nitric acid and the solution is used for ICP—AES measurements, with use of pure REE solutions as calibration standards. The method has been applied to the determination of REE in a number of standard reference materials and the results have been compared with the reported values. Three other silicate rock samples have also been analysed for REE and Y by this method.     

偶氮氯膦—mA螯合纤维的合成及性能研究

本文合成了偶氮氯膦－ｍＡ螯合纤维，研究了酸度及共存离子对其稳定性的影响，探讨了该螯合纤维对稀土元素的吸附行为。     

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.     

Determination of Hf, Sc and Y in geological samples together with the rare-earth elements

 A method is described for the determination of Hf, Sc and Y simultaneously with the REE in geological materials. An earlier method for REE separation from major elements was studied with the aim to apply it also to the determination of Hf, Sc and Y. Sample decomposition was carried out by melting with LiBO₂. The method involves separation and concentration stages, using the cation-exchange resin DOWEX AG 50W-X8. Matrix elements were eluted with 2 mol/l HCl, whereas 6 mol/l HNO₃ with oxalic acid and 8 mol/l HNO₃ were used to elute the elements to be determined. Some of the matrix elements could not be completely removed. This effect as well as the recovery rates of the determined elements were investigated. The measurements were performed by ICP-AES. Spectral interferences were also tested. Received: 8 November 1995/Revised: 12 March 1996/Accepted: 14 March 1996     

Extraction Chromatographic Separation of Ree and Y By P507 Containing Resin and Their Icp-Aes Determination In Chinese Soil Standard Samples

Abstract

This paper describes a procedure for the determination of REE and Y in soils by ICP-AES, the optimum conditions for separation of REE and Y from major elements have been investigated by precipitation with sodium hydroxide-triethanolamine and by extraction-chroroatography with P507 containing resin. Results are given for eight Chinese soil standard samples GSS-1 to GSS 8 and compared with recommended values.     

Studies on the Calibration of Matrix Effects and Ployatomic Interference for Rare Earth Elements in Geochemical Samples by ICP-MS

The primary factors limiting accuracy and precision using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the determination of rare earth elements (REE) are matrix effects and polyatomic interference. Matrix effects is non-linear and the degree of machine drift differs from one mass to the next. In general, the method to overcome non-spectroscopic matrix effects is to use matrix-matched standards. Polyatomic ions is a potential interference owing to the oxide and hydroxide formation of the light REE s (LREE),which interfere the heavy REE s (HREE) and the barium oxides of seven naturally isotopes (130-138 m/z) are also a potential source of interference. The polyatomic interference can be minimized using a knowledge of the sample matrix.     

Cation-exchange isolation and ICP-AES determination of rare earth elements in geological silicate materials

An ion-exchange ICP-AES method for the determination of 14 rare earth elements (REEs) and Y in geological materials is described. The separation of REEs from Ba using a Dowex 50W-X8 cation resin is especially considered since Ba is an excellent internal standard for REE determination by this technique. Although total recovery with either HCl or HNO₃ may be achieved, it is advantageous to use both acids sequentially. Volume and concentration of the acids are optimized attaining a quantitative separation of REEs from Ba by the introduction of the sample solution in a 1.75 mol/l HCl medium, followed by elution with 2 mol/l HNO₃ to remove matrix elements and with 7 mol/l HNO₃ to elute the analytes. The total elution volume is significantly reduced without decreasing the efficiency. The behaviour of the matrix constituents under the selected conditions is also studied, evaluating their elution percentages in each step. The final solution obtained contains only the REEs and Y, with the bulk of Sc and minor amounts of Cr, Fe, Hf and Ta. Experimental data for 5 geological reference standards (NIM-G, GSP-1, AGV-1, NIM-L and NIM-S) are reported. Good agreement between the present results and previously accepted values by various analytical techniques is observed.     

A contribution to the evaluation of REE in an Egyptian phosphate deposit

Results are presented of ICP-AES determinations of 13 rare earth elements (REE), Sc and Y in 47 core samples of 10 bore holes in the phosphate deposit of the Abu-Tartur area, Western Desert, Egypt. The complete dissolution of the samples was achieved by digestion with HF/HNO₃/HCl in a closed PTFE decomposition vessel. Such analytical lines were selected that showed no spectral interferences from the major constituents of the phosphate samples or from other REE in the samples. The precision for the determination of the individual elements for the whole procedure ranges from 0.8% to 4.0%. Also, smooth normalized chondrite and shale patterns were obtained. The results revealed that the total REE content in the investigated samples was between 0.8 and 2 mg/g, which is remarkably high when compared with many phosphate deposits in other parts of the world. The results also showed that the concentrations of individual REE as well as their total concentrations in the samples follow their P₂O₅ content, indicating that the REE may be accumulated within the phosphate fraction of the phosphate bearing sediments.Presented at the Rare Earth Minerals Conference, London (UK), April 1 and 2 (1993)     

Determination of the REE and Y in silicate materials with ICP-AES

Summary An ICP-AES method for the determination of 12 rare earth elements and Y is described. Following a Na₂O₂-sinter dissolution of silicate materials the REE and Y were separated and concentrated using ion-exchange chromatography. The dissolution and separation procedures are described in detail. Numerous tests show good recovery of the REE. Spectral interferences were quantified and discussed. The precision is better than 5% (r.s.d.) for all measured REE, except Pr. The accuracy was tested by analyzing more than 30 international reference samples, the results are in good agreement with published data. In this paper we present our latest data from 6 new reference samples.

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Bestimmung der Seltenen Erden und Yttrium in silikatischem Material mit ICP-AES

     

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.     

Insights into colloid-mediated trace element release at the soil/water interface

Organic or inorganic colloids play a major role in the mobilization of trace elements in soils and waters. Environmental physicochemical parameters (pH, redox potential, temperature, pressure, ionic strength, etc.) are the controlling factors of the colloidal mobilization. This study was dedicated to follow the colloid-mediated mobilization of trace elements through time at the soil/water interface by means of an experimental approach. Soil column experiments were carried out using percolating synthetic solutions. The percolated solutions were ultrafiltrated with various decreasing cutoff thresholds to separate the different colloidal phases in which the dissolved organic carbon and trace element concentrations were measured. The major results which stem from this study are the following: (i) The data can be divided into different groups of organic compounds (microbial metabolites, fulvic acids, humic acids) with regard to their respective aromaticity and molecular weight. (ii) Three groups of elements can be distinguished based on their relationships with the colloidal phases: the first one corresponds to the so-called "truly" dissolved group (Li, B, K, Na, Rb, Si, Mg, Sr, Ca, Mn, Ba, and V). The second one can be considered as an intermediate group (Cu, Cd, Co, and Ni), while the third group gathers Al, Cr, U, Mo, Pb, Ti, Th, Fe, and rare earth elements (REE) carried by the organic colloidal pool. (iii) The data demonstrate that the fulvic acids seem to be a major organic carrier phase for trace elements such as Cu, Cd, Co, and Ni. By contrast, the trace elements belonging to the so-called colloidal pool were mostly mobilized by humic acids containing iron nanoparticles. Lead, Ti, and U were mobilized by iron nanoparticles bound to these humic acids. Thus, humic substances allowed directly or indirectly a colloidal transport of many insoluble trace elements either by binding trace elements or by stabilizing a ferric carrier phase. (iv) Finally, the results demonstrated also that REE were mostly mobilized by humic substances. The REE normalized patterns showed a middle REE downward concavity. Therefore, as previously shown elsewhere humic substances are a major control of REE speciation and REE fractionation patterns as well since the humic substance/metal ratio was the key parameter controlling the REE pattern shape.     

Separation of yttrium and rare earth elements from geological materials

The isolation of rare earth elements (REE) from geological materials by ionexchange chromatography with Dowex 50W-X8 is described. Elution curves for Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Yb are determined by inductively-coupled plasma emission spectrometry. Separation from the main constituents including aluminium is accomplished by elution with 0.8 M, 4 M and 6 M hydrochloric acid. Recoveries of the individual REE are 90–100%. The method was confirmed by tests on synthetic basalt, andesite and dacite.     

封闭压力酸溶-ICP-MS法分析地质样品中47个元素的评价

对封闭压力酸溶－ICP－MS法同时测定地质样品中47个元素的效果和适用范围进行了实测评价。并对溶样条件进行了优化。实验结果表明，HF－HNO3高温高压酸溶是一种有效的样品分解方法，在所测定的47个元素中，大部分元素如Li,Be,Ti,V,Mn,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn,As,Zr,Nb,Mo,Cd,In,Sn,Sb,Hf,Ta,W,Tl,Pb,Bi等在大多数标样中在三种取样量下都可以得到满意的回收率。而Sc,Cr,Ga,Y,REE,Rb,Cs,Sr,Ba,Th,U等元素在大部分样品中则随取样量减少，回收率上升，在一些样品中，当取样量降至25mg时，可以获得满意的回收率。用王水代替HNO3复溶残渣，利用氯离子的络合作用促进复溶，使许多元素的回收率有了明显的提高。     

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.     

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。     

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.     

Multielement analysis by sequential instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation

We measured 37 elements in six USGS geological camples and one NBS biological orchard leaf (OL) sample, using sequential INAA and radiochemical group separation coupled with high resolution, high efficiency Ge(Li), and a Ge(Li) with anticoincidence shields. The elemental concentrations in these samples vary over three orders of magnitude. Our results agree very well with the reported values. The rare earth values in PCC-1 are 2–4 times lower than the reported values. Precise REE patterns are defined in USGS samples, which are characteristic of the total rock types. The REE pattern in OL is identical to the mineral apatite. In addition to the possibility that OL may be contaminated by local soil, it is also possible that the uptake of REE trace elements by plants from soil is perhaps dominated by accessory mineral such as apatite, or plants take up the REE from bulk soil in a preferential manner as a smooth function of the REE ionic radii.     

Enrichment of rare-earth elements (REE) and Gd-DTPA in surface water samples by means of countercurrent chromatography (CCC)

An analytical scheme was developed for the determination of rare-earth elements and gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (Gd-DTPA) in river water by ICP-MS. Since the concentration of Gd-DTPA and the rare-earth elements in river water is often lower than the limits of detection in quadrupole ICP-MS applying pneumatic nebulization, a preconcentration procedure is essential.In this work, the capabilities of countercurrent chromatography (CCC) for preconcentration of REE were investigated. For preconcentration ethylhexylphosphates as stationary phase had been used. Acidified aqueous samples (pH 2) and river water spiked with REE and Gd-DTPA were under study. The procedure was compared with solid phase extraction (SPE) using the same samples and ethylhexylphosphates as stationary phase. The recovery of the light and middle REE was found to be at about 100%, which was found to be more efficient than applying SPE. In contrast, the recovery rates for Yb and Lu were low (and poorly reproducible) using CCC (57% and 73%, respectively) while significant better results were obtained with SPE (89% and 84%, respectively).The recoveries of Gd applying Gd-DTPA were 80 ± 4% in the investigation of river water samples.     

Determination of rare earth elements in soils and sediments by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after cation-exchange separation

The influence of matrix elements such as Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Na and Ti, on the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry determination of the rare earth elements in soils and sediments is investigated and analytical lines with minimal interferences are chosen. The analysis of certified reference materials by two calibration methods (pure rare earth solutions and IAEA-Soil 5) and after cation-exchange proved that calibrations with IAEA-Soil 5 increase the number of accurately determined rare earth elements (REE), permitting the instrumental determination of Ce, Eu, La, Nd, Tb, Yb and Y in soils and some sediments. The cation-exchange procedure permits the determination of 12 REE with very good accuracy (below 10%) and detection limits varying between 0.05 (Eu, Tb, Yb) and 0.5 (Er) mg kg(-1).