A rapid atomic-absorption technique for the determination of lithium in silicate materials

Abstract

A simple and rapid atomic-absorption procedure is described for the determination of lithium in silicate rocks. Following fusion with sodium borate, the samples are dissolved in dilute nitric acid solution. Determinations of the lithium contents are made directly. The precision of the method, in terms of one standard deviation, was calculated to be 1093 ± 13 p.p.m. and 34·5 ± 4·6 p.p.m. Accuracy, as indicated by a comparison with published determinations, is good.