Determination of boron in geological materials, high-temperature nickel-base alloys, and uranium-magnesium-rich samples by ICP-AES

The determination of boron in geological materials, steels, alloys, and uranium-rich samples by ICP-atomic emission spectroscopy is complicates due to spectral interferences. In the proposed method, boron is quantitatively separated from the matrix interference by fusion with potassium hydroxide. The aqueous leachate is aspirated into the plasma for measurement of boron values. The method is simple, rapid, and accurate, resulting in a relative standard deviation of 1.2%, and boron values measurable at the 5-ppm level and above on a routine basis. The three boron doublets, 249.773 and 249.678 ; 208.959 and 208.893 : and 182.641 and 182.591 nm, were thoroughly investigated. Their detection limits, background equivalent concentrations, signal-to-background ratios, and spectral interferences using the selected optimized conditions are discussed. Some international reference standards for geological materials and certified Ni-base alloys were analyzed together with in-house samples. Baron values were also determined for two international manganese nodule reference samples and four standard bauxite samples using the proposed method. The effect on different concentrations of Mg, Ca, and La (0.5 to 25 mg/mL) on boron (10 μg/ml) emission signals at different plasma powers (1200 W and 800 W) was also studied.