Comparison of cold digestion methods for elemental analysis of a Y-type zeolite by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry

Summary

Elemental analysis of zeolites and fluid cracking catalysts is used as a way to monitor production and performance characteristics of these materials. An overview of the similarities and differences between two cold acid digestion methods for the analysis of a Y-type zeolite by ICP spectrometry is presented. Mass balance was used as a check for accuracy since no certified standards are available. Both methods obtained mass balances of 98%. Higher background continuum and higher detection limits were found using Method 1, whereas Method 2 requires very close matrix matching of standards and samples, and suffers from many spectral interferences in the emission wavelength region below 200 nm. Both methods have at least one element that cannot be determined.