Preparation of trace element reference materials by a co-precipitated gel technique

Abstract

A method is described for the preparation of trace element reference materials by a co-precipitated gel technique. The technique is applied to the manufacture of multi-element calibration standards for the analysis of geological materials by direct-reading emission spectrometry. The quality of gel reference material is considered in terms of homogeneity, major element and trace element accuracy and purity. Results are presented for the analysis of the gels by a variety of techniques, and for the analysis of international standard geological materials by direct-reading emission spectrometry with gel reference materials calibration.