Chemical composition of Fly ash by Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectroscopy (ICP/MS)

1. Powdered samples were scrapped from each of the four test materials. 100 mg of each powdered sample was weighed and poured into a Teflon screw capped jar (SavillexR).
2. 2 ml concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) was added to each jar and the jars tightly capped.
3. The jars were placed on a hot plate at a temperature of 150°C until the entire samples were dissolved.
4. The solutions were then transferred into separate 125 ml bottles, their jars rinsed thoroughly with water and transferred into appropriate bottles.
5. About 15 ml of water was then added to fill each bottle. The solutions were analyzed using Perkin Elmer Elan 5000 inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometer (ICP/MS).

6. Using the protocol of internal standardization, about 30 parts per billion (ppb) In, Tb and Bi were added into each sample solution so as to overcome instrumental drift and matrix effect.
7. The high thermal energy and electron rich environment of the ICP resulted in the conversion of most atoms into ions.
8. A quadruple mass spectrometer permitted the detection of ions and each mass in rapid sequence, allowing signals of individual isotopes of an element to be scanned.

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.