Quantitative analysis of chromite ores using glass discs in moderate dilutions of lithium tetraborate by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

A method for the quantitative analysis of chromite ores by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry using beads is proposed. The work concerned the serious problems caused by the refractory nature of these materials which prevents the use of glass discs in x-ray fluorescence. An in-depth study was done to optimise the variables which influence the glass disc formation process. Sufficiently homogeneous glass discs were obtained under the following experimental conditions: lithium tetraborate as flux with moderate sample dilution (1:40), with the addition of one or two drops of LiBr solution(250 g l−1), at a temperature of 1200 °C for 30 min. The qualitative and semiquantitative results for the chromi…