Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, K, Ca, Ti, Mn and Fe determination in iron-manganese nodules
The test method specifies mass content determination of Na (Sodium), Mg (Magnesium), Al (Aluminum), Si (Silicon), P (Phosphorus), P (Potassium), Ca (Calcium), Ti (Titanium), Mn (Manganese), Fe (Iron) oxides in powder sample material of iron-manganese nodules of the Northern and Eastern parts of the Finnish Gulf (Baltic Sea) by X-ray fluorescence method with “SPECTROSCAN MAKC-GV” spectrometer.
The analysis procedure includes two measurements of the same material sample prepared for analysis.
The sample material shall be dried, grinded to the particle size of 5-20 micron. Then the powder sample is pressed into a pellet in a boron acid cup.
Boron acid cup is pressed out with a shaped punch being at least 3 mm deep. Sample material is put into the cup and pressed with a flat punch into a pellet.
The pellet is put into the sample holder and then into spectrometer. Analysis is carried out automatically according to the chosen program. The program can determine all elements (oxides) listed in the test method or some of those elements by choice.
Mass content determination of all oxides is obtained from one sample.
| Determined compound | Element mass content, % |
| Na2O3 | 1,5-2,0 |
| MgO | 1,0-2,5 |
| Al2O3 | 3,0-6,5 |
| SiO2 | 10-25 |
| P2O5 | 2-8 |
| K2O | 0,7-2,5 |
| CaO | 1,0-4 |
| TiO2 | 0,10-0,3 |
| MnO | 10-40 |
| Fe2O3 | 11-55 |