X-ray fluorescence determination of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm in industrial sediments of calcium sulfate using linear regression analysis

Abstract

Industrial sediments of calcium sulfate semihydrate obtained from industrial extraction phosphoric acid and containing 0.3–4.5 wt % of impurity La−Sm are investigated by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRFA) and a procedure for the quantitative determination of cerium lanthanides in the sediments is developed. The use of linear regression analysis of X-ray fluorescence spectra of multielement industrial samples and models of individual compounds NaLn(SO₄)₂ · H₂O (cp grade) allowed us to resolve overlaps of spectral L-series lines for La–Sm, eliminate the background, and perform the regression assessment of line intensities of these elements. On this basis, we developed a procedure for the determination of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm in CaSO₄ · 0.5H₂O sediments with limits of detection (wt %): 0.022, 0.013, 0.011, 0.008, and 0.008, respectively. In concentration ranges (wt %) La (0.05–0.99), Ce (0.1–4.9), Pr (0.005–0.49), Nd (0.02–0.99), and Sm (0.005-0.19), the relative standard deviation RSD (n = 10, P = 0.95) was 18−27, 9−18, 20−31, 17−26, and 19−31%, respectively. A comparison of the results of XRFA with the data of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirms the accuracy of the results obtained according to OST (Branch Standard) 41-08-221-04.