A review of instrumental methods for determination of rare earth elements

Rare earths analysis of rock samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis, internal standard method

“…Repeated comparison of the precision of INAA and ICP-MS methods with the help of geological reference materials showed the former to give, in general, better results, especially for the middle and heavy REEs [12,13]. INAA is characterized by a relatively low price for REE determination [1] due to the wide-spread accessibility of research reactors around the world. All these advantages promote the broad application of INAA to geological sample analysis for major and trace elements [14], noble metals [15], and REE [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] content.…”

“…Recent reviews of spectroscopic techniques revealed the most common methods being used at present for geological sample analysis for REE content are inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry (ICP-AES and ICP-MS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) [1,2]. The basic restriction of the first two methods is that only solutions can be analyzed.…”

“…The typically low content of REEs in rock means careful sample preparation is essential to avoid analyte loss and/or solution contamination, making the entire procedure a crucial part of the analysis [5,6]. As a result, the ICP-MS technique becomes the most expensive one for REE determination [1].…”

Determination of Rare Earth Elements by ICP-MS in some Geological Samples in (Sulaimani) Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

“…In technological applications, the character of the REEs and their geological distribution is quite comparable to each other (Chakhmouradian and Wall, 2012).The use of REEs have been found in a multitude electronic device, industry and medicine due to their unique electronic configurations so they are classified as "strategic critical metals", REEs due to their ability of forming, alloyed with other metals, valuable and distinctive optical characteristics, including fluorescence and coherent light of emission, essential for laser device (Massari andRuberti, 2013, Rojano et al, 2019). For determination of REEs in real samples, several analytical methodologies have been applied such as; (INAA) Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (Aliyu et al, 2018), (XRF) X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry (Schramm, 2016, Silva et al, 2020, (ICP-AES) Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (Zybinsky et al, 2019), (ICP-OES) Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (Li et al, 2019), and (ICP-MS) Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (Druzian et al, 2016, Gorbatenko and Revina, 2015, Zawisza et al, 2011. The most commonly used technique to analyse trace elements in geological samples is an(ICP-MS) a technique that incorporate multielement capability, speed and high sensitivity (Li et al, 2017, Longerich et al, 1990.…”

Hydrofluoric Acid‐Free Digestion of Geological Samples for the Quantification of Rare Earth Elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Optical Emission Spectrometry

“…The increasing application of rare earth elements (REEs) has resulted in an enhanced demand for sensitive, accurate and environmentally safe analytical methods (Bourzac , Helmeczi et al ) for their quantification. Inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) has been one of the most used techniques for the determination of REE mass fractions in geological samples (Navarro et al , Zawisza et al , Gorbatenko and Revina ). Analyses of geological materials by ICP‐OES always involve a prior preparation of the sample to dissolve its components in an aqueous solution.…”