title: Determination of hafnium at the 10(-4)% level (relative to zirconium content) using neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.
abstract: Hafnium at the very low level of 1-8 ppm (in relation to zirconium) was determined in zirconium sulfate solutions (originating from investigations of the separation of ca. 44 ppm Hf from zirconium by means of the ion exchange method) by using three independent methods: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS), neutron activation analysis (NAA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results of NAA and ICP MS determinations were consistent with each other across the entire investigated range (the RSD of both methods did not exceed 38%). The results of ICP-AES determination were more diverse, particularly at less than 5 ppm Hf (RSD was significantly higher: 29-253%). The ion exchange method exploiting Diphonix(®) resin proved sufficient efficiency in Zr-Hf separation when the initial concentration ratio of the elements ([Zr]0/[Hf]0) ranged from 1200 to ca. 143,000.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Inorganic Technology and Fuels, Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, Bolesława Krzywoustego 6, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland. Electronic address: marek.smolik@polsl.pl.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Smolik
authors: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warszawa, Poland.
authors: Halina
authors: H
authors: Polkowska-Motrenko
authors: Division of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, pl. M. Curie-Sklodowska 5, 20-031 Lublin, Poland.
authors: Zbigniew
authors: Z
authors: Hubicki
authors: Department of Chemistry, Inorganic Technology and Fuels, Faculty of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, Bolesława Krzywoustego 6, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.
authors: Agata
authors: A
authors: Jakóbik-Kolon
authors: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warszawa, Poland.
authors: Bożena
authors: B
authors: Danko
keywords: Hafnium from zirconium separation; Hafnium in zirconium determination; Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; Neutron activation analysis