MINING
Atomic measurement made safe and easy Determination of gold and precious metals using the Agilent MP-AES The accurate and precise determination of gold and other precious metals (PMs) is a vital task for companies involved in PM production and the contract or service laboratories that support them. This might involve the processing of hundreds of samples typical of exploration and mining activities, or supplying the quality control assay of the final product from PM producers or recyclers. PMs are also produced as a by-product of copper or nickel processing. Today’s analysts have access to a range of elemental analytical techniques including flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and ICP mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The choice of method will depend on a number of factors, for example, the technology that is available, the skill of the operator, sample type, cost of analysis, sample throughput requirements and the objective of the analytical result. Agilent has identified an increased need for multielement determinations over a wide dynamic range at an attractive overall cost of analysis, taking into account instrument supplies, consumables, power and labour, and has developed a new instrument to meet this need. The Agilent Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometer (MP-AES) is a low-cost, highly automated technique suitable for the trace analysis of PMs in samples typically found in mining and exploration activities. As MP-AES relies on the generation of a microwave plasma using nitrogen, no flammable gases such as acetylene are required. This reduces running costs and improves lab safety. Nitrogen can be supplied from bottled gas or a suitable Nitrogen Generator. This alleviates the difficulty and costs in sourcing gases such as acetylene, especially in remote locations. It is apparent that the MP-AES offers many advantages for the analysis of gold and other precious metals compared to conventional analysis techniques such as flame AA. The MPAES offers superior sensitivity, an increased linear dynamic range and improved speed of analysis. In addition, the MP-AES more than doubles the measurement speed of conventional AA systems. Furthermore, the MP-AES has the
lowest running costs of all of today’s atomic spectroscopy techniques, due to reduced gas costs. Its use of non-combustible nitrogen also ensures that, unlike flame AA, the MP-AES can provide safer, multi-element unattended overnight operation. The MP-AES also offers the option of installation at remote locations. This enables laboratories to analyse samples at the source rather than shipping the samples to a central laboratory for analysis, as is the current practice. In other instances where remote analysis is already performed using flame AA, the MP-AES provides the user with capability to analyse the samples in a safer environment, without the need for flammable gases such as acetylene. You can find out more by inputting this link in your browser: https://bit.ly/3fOyL9F or contact Chemetrix for further information.
E Q U I P M E N T adamequipment.co.za
Weighing
LARGE...
Nimbus Platform Scales
CAP: 12 - 22kg READ: 0.1g or
CHEMETRIX EXPORT (PTY) LTD
Solis
JHB: (011) 541 9801 CPT: (021) 532 2482 DBN (031) 276 2245 FAX: (011) 541 9802 connect@chemetrix.co.za www.chemetrix.co.za
Semi-Micro & Analytical Balances
Labotec upsized 2 000l industrial drying oven with push-in trolley Labotec has an upsized industrial drying oven used in the mining industry for drying samples. This 2 000 litre
capacity oven has more space to fit in more load, and can be customised to suit customer requirements. These robust and reliable drying ovens operate using solid state switching and also offer a convenient purpose-built push-in trolley, making it easier to load and offload the samples outside the oven. The 2 000 litre Drying Oven operates at temperatures ambient +7°C to 130°C. This is controlled by an electronic P.I.D. temperature control with digital indication of set and process value and a high accuracy pt100 temperature sensor and solid-state control relay for optimum reliability. The doors are mounted on robust hinges and the door seal is manufactured from long lasting silicon for effective sealing. There are six shelves supplied with the push-in trolley. An additional trolley can be purchased if needed to assist in the turnaround time between loading and unloading samples.
small...
CAP: 120 - 510g READ: 0.01mg - 0.1mg pairs with
AVT
Anti-Vibration Table
...We’ve got it all.
LABOTEC (PTY) LTD JHB: (011) 315 5434 CPT: (021) 531 7660 DBN: (031) 566 4870 Fax: (011) 315 5882 sales@labotec.co.za www.labotec.co.za
CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFO!
+27 (0)11 9749745 sales@adamequipment.co.za Issue 4 | 2021 | Analytical Reporter
23
