Volatilization, transport, and sublimation of metallic and non-metallic elements in high temperature gases at Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

Heating in a microwave oven in the presence of acid mixtures dissolves the metals from powdered coal, fly ash, oil shales, rocks, sediments, and biological materials. The dissolution is complete within 3 min. Nearly 25 elements (Al, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Si, Sr, Tl, V, and Zn) from the dissolved samples are determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry. The method has been tested on a variety of standard reference materials, with reproducible and accurate results.

Applications of microwave oven sample dissolution in analysis

Analyses of atmospheric particles collected at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii from February 1979 through September 1982 reveal strong influxes of Asian dust in the spring of each year. Concentrations of a typical crustal element, aluminum, are more than an order of magnitude greater between February and June than during the remainder of the year (71 +/- 51 versus 6.7 +/- 2.3 nanograms per cubic meter). The mass of crustal material transported during the relatively short dust episodes accounts for an average of 80 percent of the total yearly mass of atmospheric particles at 3400 meters on Mauna Loa.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/220/4593/195.full.pdf

Asian Dust: Seasonal Transport to the Hawaiian Islands

Airborne particulate matter from the January 1983 eruption of Kilauea volcano was inadvertently collected on air filters at Mauna Loa Observatory at a sampling station used to observe particles in global circulation. Analyses of affected samples revealed unusually large concentrations of selenium, arsenic, indium, gold, and sulfur, as expected for volcanic emissions. Strikingly large concentrations of iridium were also observed, the ratio of iridium to aluminum being 17,000 times its value in Hawaiian basalt. Since iridium enrichments have not previously been observed in volcanic emissions, the results for Kilauea suggest that it is part of an unusual volcanic system which may be fed by magma from the mantle. The iridium enrichment appears to be linked with the high fluorine content of the volcanic gases, which suggests that the iridium is released as a volatile IrF(6).

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/222/4628/1118.full.pdf

Iridium enrichment in airborne particles from kilauea volcano: january 1983.

Inductively coupled argon plasma/optical emission spectrometry (ICAP/OES) is useful as a simultaneous, multielement analytical technique for the determination of trace elements in geological materials. A method for the determination of trace-level rare earth elements (REE) in geological materials using an ICAP 63-channel emission spectrometer is described. Separation and preconcentration of the REE and yttrium from a sample digest are achieved by a nitric acid gradient cation exchange and hydrochloric acid anion exchange. Precision of 1-4% relative standard deviation and comparable accuracy are demonstrated by the triplicate analysis of three spills of BCR-1 and BHVO-1. Analyses of other geological materials including coals, soils, and rocks show comparable precision and accuracy.

Determination of rare earth elements in geological materials by inductively coupled argon plasma/atomic emission spectrometry

The four participating laboratories measured the concentrations of 37 elements in NBS standard coal (SRM 1632) and 41 in fly ash (SRM 1633). Most of the measurements were done by instrumental neutron activation analysis, which was done by each of the laboratories. In addition, one laboratory used instrumental photon activation analysis and another counted the natural radioactivity to determine concentrations of K, Th, and U. The results obtained are in good agreement with the values given by NBS for the twelve elements in each material for which both they and we have values. For most elements for which comparisons can be made, the interlaboratory dispersion of results obtained in this work is much less than was obtained in a recent roundrobin analysis of these materials by many laboratories using a variety of techniques. Average concentrations for the 37 elements in the coal standard and 41 elements in the fly ash standard are presented for comparison with results that may be obtained by other laboratories.

Elemental concentrations in the National Bureau of Standards' environmental coal and fly ash Standard Reference Materials

Concentrations of 51 elements in the recently issued NBS bituminous Coal (SRM 1632a) and 43 elements in Subbituminous Coal (SRM 1635) have been measured mainly with the use of instrumental neutron activation analysis and neutron-capture prompt ..gamma..-ray activation analysis. The results are in good agreement with values reported for some of the elements in the standards by NBS. Concentration values for many elements in addition to those given by NBS are presented for comparison with results that may be obtained by other laboratories. 4 talbes.

Concentrations of elements in the National Bureau of Standards' bituminous and subbituminous coal standard reference materials

Nondestructive analysis for silicon, rubidium, and yttrium in atmospheric particulate material.

The NBS coal and fly ash Standard Reference Materials (SRM 1632 and 1633) were analyzed for 37 elements in coal and 41 elements in fly ash mainly by the use of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), augmented by instrumental photon activation analysis (IPAA) and direct counting of natural ..gamma..-ray activity. For most elements measured, there was excellent interlaboratory agreement between the four participating laboratories and with the National Bureau of Standards values for elements measured by them and in this work. In cases of most elements for which comparisons can be made, instrumental nuclear methods used in a round-robin study of the standards provided more accurate average concentrations and smaller interlaboratory dispersions of values than the other major techniques used, atomic absorption spectrometry and optical emission spectroscopy.

Ilhan. Olmez

Papers

Elemental concentrations in the National Bureau of Standards' environmental coal and fly ash Standard Reference Materials

Concentrations of elements in the National Bureau of Standards' bituminous and subbituminous coal standard reference materials

Nondestructive analysis for silicon, rubidium, and yttrium in atmospheric particulate material.

Four-laboratory comparative instrumental nuclear analysis of the NBS coal and fly ash standard reference materials