Development of PGE-Bearing Silicate Glass Standards for Quantitative Trace Element Analysis in Silicate-Based Metallurgical Slags

Abstract

Two batches of silicate glass doped with precious metals (PMs) (Pt, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Ru, Au, and Re) were prepared as analytical reference materials at very high oxygen potentials, which can be achieved only at elevated pressure. The high oxygen potentials allow the PMs to dissolve in the glasses as oxide components. The two glasses were examined and characterized using electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for their chemical composition and homogeneity. The glasses were found to be homogeneous on the micron scale or less to within analytical precision, and are well suited as standards for the rapid and accurate LA-ICP-MS analysis of PMs in silicate slags or similar materials.