A contribution to the method of determining sodium, potassium and zinc in iron ores and sinters by atomic absorption spectrometry

The reported method enables determining sodium, potassium and zinc in the amounts from 0.002 to 1 % in iron ores and sinters from a single weighed sample within about 90 min. The technique of making dissolved samples, preparation of standard solutions and methods of diluting the solutions in accordance with the content of elements to be determined are described and discussed. Measurements were performed in air-acetylene flame at wave lengths for K -lambda = 766,5 nm, for Na - lambda = 589,6 nm and for Zn -lambda = 213,9 nm using a Perkin-Elmer spectrometer. The reproducibility of the method was verified on samples of natural ores and sinters, establishing mathematico-statistical parameters. The described method was developed and verified in some selected laboratories in accordance with the draft of the ISO 102/SC-2/WG-9 standard. (author)