Evaluation of High-Fired Beryllium Oxide Digestion Methods to Measure Beryllium in Industrial Hygiene Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

Several digestion methods were tested to determine their effectiveness on high-fired BeO (ceramic BeO that has been heated to a temperature of approximately 1450 degrees C). High fired BeO is an extremely insoluble, refractory compound that may be present at some DOE sites. Because of the toxicity of air-borne BeO particulates, detection and measurement of high-fired BeO is required. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) is a sensitive technique for measuring Be. However, the Be must be dissolved prior to analysis. Accurate detection of the presence of Be depends on digestion methods that are effective for all forms of Be, including high-fired BeO, that may be in Industrial Hygiene (IH) wipes or air filter samples