[Simultaneous determination of germanium and some major ash forming elements in lignites using a dual-view ICP-OES]

In this article, an ICP-OES method of simultaneous determination germanium and some major ash forming elements especially for Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Ti in lignites is described. An ICP-OES instrument equipped with a dual-view plasma torch and a simultaneous detector was used. This technology allows the simultaneous determination of trace elements and major components in the axial view along with in the radial view. The moderate operation condition of the instrument and analytical wavelength lack of interference from elements in the sample matrix was selected, the spectral background was automaticly eliminated. The obtained coal ashes were dissolved in mixtures of nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid and perchloric acid after coal samples were cinerated. The analytical results were in good agreement with those provided by national standard methods. The detection limit of the instrument is ranged between 0.00039-0.10 microg. x mL(-1), the precision of the method is in the range of 0.79%-2.84%, the average recovery of samples is 92.38%, the proposed method is well suitable for the determination germanium and some major ash forming elements in lignites.