Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric determination of rare earth elements in granites and greisens using thin-layer chromatographic preconcentration

Abstract

A method for the determination of individual rare earth elements and yttrium in granites and greisens was developed on the basis of a combination of thin-layer chromatographic separation and clean-up of the rare earth element group on a Dowex 50-X8 cation exchanger in combination with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The detection limit of the latter varies from 0.25 to 5.0 ppm and the relative standard deviation is 0.04–0.08. A water-cooled burner was used in a Plasma-701 apparatus for ICP-AES. Spectra were observed along the discharge axis from the top of the burner. The separation of rare earth elements and yttrium using thin-layer chromatography is universal with regard to the materials analysed. It can be used in combination with other methods of element determination. It has the advantages over column chromatographic methods that a small initial mass and small aliquots of solutions can be used.