Análise química de materiais cerâmicos : digestão por fusão e medidas por ICP OES com configuração axial

Abstract

Ceramic samples are efficiently digested using fusion procedures. However the elevated amounts of dissolved solids in the resulting solutions may cause spectral and transport interferences, affect the analytical blanks and background signals and consequently the limits of detection. These effects can be even worst when measurements are performed using ICP OES with axial view configuration. Therefore, the goal of this thesis was an evaluation of the feasibility of application of an ICP OES with axial view configuration for determination of analytes in complex inorganic samples digested by fusion. The proposal was based on the suitability of fusion procedures for fusion of refractory samples and, on the other hand, the susceptibility of the axial configuration to spectral interferences and effects caused by high concentrations of dissolved solids. The study was carried out using standard reference materials of bauxite, refractory, silicon carbide and glass that were fused using Na+ and Li+ fluxes. All analytes were determined using selected ionic and atomic emissions lines in solutions containing 0.1, 1.1 and 2.2 % m/v of dissolved solids. The instrument was calibrated using analytical solutions prepared in acid or in the reagents media. The ICP OES parameters were optimized in order to obtain robust and non robust conditions according to the Mg II / Mg I ratio. The limits of detection, dynamic linear range, and sensitivity were established. Despite the complexity of the samples, suitable results were obtained for all of them. The most critical aspect was related to the quartz torch lifetime and it was not possible to introduce solutions containing 2.2. m/v of dissolved solids. The deposition of solids in the quartz torch was minimized by increasing the flow-rate of the auxiliary gas to 2.25 L min-1. Severe matrix effects were not observed in robust and non robust operating conditions (recoveries were around 100 + 20 % for minor elements and 100 ± 10 % for major elements). Finally, this research led to the establishment of analytical procedures for each sample material. The best experimental conditions were those that allowed the determination of most analytes in the same sample solution taking into account the multielement capacity of the ICP OES.