Dissolution of α-alumina for elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

α-Aluminas are readily dissolved in concentrated phosphoric acid for analysis by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The dissolution rate is significantly faster than with concentrated HCl at high pressure or via fusion techniques. In addition to the ICP-AES results obtained with these solvent systems, the results of NMR spectrometric analyses are presented, which permit the preliminary characterisation of the species in the phosphoric acid solutions.