Chemical Analysis

The Microbeam Laboratory has expertise in XRF and Wet Chemical analysis, coupled with access to equipment that measures different physical characteristics provides alternative strategies to interrogate different materials, the analytical instrumentation includes;

  • Bruker Tiger 4kW Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF)

  • Bruker Tornado Capillary Optics ED Mapping X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (µXRF),

  • Agilent 7700 Axial Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES),

  • Various Metrohm Equipment for aqueous ion detection and titrations;

  • Shimadzu TiC/ToC Total and Inorganic Carbon Analyser.

ICP-OES can also provide bulk analysis after acid or fusion decomposition; matrix-matching and standards additions methods provide the most accurate ICP-OES calibration techniques; customising the analysis to the material.

Bulk composition can also be determined with the µXRF, typically many point analyses are combined to achieve the average composition.

Materials Handled

Ores, concentrates, tails, process liquors, scale and products, metals and alloys, graphite and carbon, ferrosilicon, ferromanganese, silicon, polymers, building materials, drill cores, dip samples, machine-parts, etc… can all be accommodated using the combined flexibility of different analytical techniques and sample preparation equipment.

Sample Preparation

  • A selection of preparation equipment is available that gives us flexibility to modify samples to provide the best analysis options. Flexible sample preparation options allow the analysis of materials presented as solids, powders, films or liquids.
  • Small scale sample comminution in mills of different construction provides options to prevent critical sample contamination with interfering mill materials.
  • Centrifuge and vacuum filtration separation equipment
  • Wet chemical selective extraction and dissolution for XRF and ICP-OES analysis
  • Flux fusion for wet dissolution
  • Specialty oxidising fusions for XRF glass disk preparation
  • 30-tonne hydraulic press and dies for making briquettes for XRF analysis
  • Liquid/loose powder XRF sample cups
  • 1200ºC Muffle furnace
  • N.O.R.M handling facilities