Fluorine application in the analytical chemistry of zirconium

It is suggested that zirconium-containing minerals and ceramics are decomposed by fluorination with molecular fluorine when their analysis is required. In this case two phases are produced, i.e. solid and gaseous ones, containing ingredients of the analyzed substance within fluorides, which differ abruptly in their physicochemical properties and, therefore, easily separable. Zirconium can be determined proceeding from chemical formula of its tetrafluoride, quantitatively sublimated from solid product of fluorination based on its mass reduction after sublimation distillation of ZrF4. In the flue gases formed after fluorination of the analyzed minerals or ceramics it proved possible to identify the content of elements, which form volatile fluorides, within the substances analyzed, using the methods of IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry or gas chromatography