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Development and application of an analysis method for the determination of rare earth elements in silicate-rich samples by Na2O2 sintering and ICP–MS analysis

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Abstract

The performance of a fast and simple analytical procedure for rare earth elements (REEs) quantification from secondary sources was investigated in the present work. Seven silicate-rich certified reference materials (CRMs) in the form of Andesite (JA-1), Basalt (JB-3), Rhyolite (JR-1, JR-2), Granite (JG-2), Granodiorite (JG-3), and Till (TILL-1), were used for the optimization and characterization of the analysis method. The optimized method was used in the analysis of nine mining wastes selected within the ENVIREE project, under the ERA-MIN Program of the 7th Framework, having as the main aim to ensure a policy securing long-term access of REEs secondary sources at reasonable costs. For silicate-rich samples efficient solid dissolution involves sintering with Na2O2 at 460 °C and a sample to oxidizing reagent ratio of 1:6.5. Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) was used in the quantification of the REEs with aerosol dilution of samples applied to minimize the salt effect on the plasma and interface regions. The work performed in the present study clearly shows that accurate reports on the REE concentrations from geological matrices also involves as mandatory the estimation of the overall uncertainty from various sources (sample preparation or analyte measurements). In the analysis of geological samples, the proposed analysis method has on average 23% of the overall uncertainty explained by the sample preparation and 77% accounted by the analysis steps. Moreover, the method described by effective, cheap, robust and safe attributes, can be recommended as an accessible alternative to the HF wet digestion method. Although from all the investigated tailings samples, only those from Sweden and Czech Republic can be regarded as potential secondary sources for REEs, investigation of other resources with interest at European level might bring a great benefit in the general attempt to develop an economically viable method for the production of rare earth elements.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by UEFISCDI within the European and International Cooperation—Horizon 2020, ERAMIN-ERANET No. 25/2015. Acknowledgment is given to the infrastructure support from the Operational Program Competitiveness through RECENT AIR project, grant agreement MySMIS no. 127324.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania

    Laurentiu-Valentin Soroaga, Cecilia Arsene & Romeo-Iulian Olariu

  2. Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Integrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), The Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania

    Laurentiu-Valentin Soroaga, Cecilia Arsene & Romeo-Iulian Olariu

  3. Faculty of Physics, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania

    Catalin Borcia

  4. Faculty of Geography and Geology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 20A Carol I, 700506, Iasi, Romania

    Mitica Pintilei

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  1. Laurentiu-Valentin Soroaga
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  2. Cecilia Arsene
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Contributions

L-VS: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal Analyses, Investigation, Data curation, Writing—Original draft preparation, Visualization. CA: Validation, Resources, Writing—Reviewing and Editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration. CB: Resources, Writing—Reviewing and Editing, Funding acquisition. MP: Resources, Writing—Reviewing and Editing. R-IO: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Resources, Data curation, Writing—Reviewing and Editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Romeo-Iulian Olariu.

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Soroaga, LV., Arsene, C., Borcia, C. et al. Development and application of an analysis method for the determination of rare earth elements in silicate-rich samples by Na2O2 sintering and ICP–MS analysis. ANAL. SCI. 38, 1395–1406 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44211-022-00172-w

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