The Determination of Total Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur in Silicates, Silicate Rocks, Soils and Sediments

Abstract

Determinations of the volatile elements carbon, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen in many geological RM, performed with the LECO CHN and SC analysers, are presented. The method allowed the determination of S in concentrations from a few % m/m to 0.001% m/m or less, of C from % m/m to 0.01% m/m and of H from % m/m to 0.004% m/m. Accuracy was usually better than the XRF method (for S). All obtained values passed the Sutarno‐Steger test, which establishes that |(meananalysed ‐ meancertified)|/ Scertified < 2, for the cases with an appropriate number of determinations (n > 10 for each element). It was possible to perform routine determination of C, H and S with the instrumentation, coupled with the determination of major and minor elements in geological materials. Determination of nitrogen could also be performed on an exploratory basis, with improvements in the method dependent on the future availability of more reference materials with reliable composition of this element.

Determination of Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulfur in Geological Materials Using Elemental Analysers

“…Recommended values given by Govindaraju (1995) are always lower. However, there were no significant differences between the values obtained in this study and the data published by Andrade et al. (2009).…”

“… a All results are expressed as CO 2 to allow direct comparison with data listed by Govindaraju (1995). b These results are also expressed as C in order to compare with those of Andrade et al. (2009). …”

“…2001, Michel and Villemant 2003, Bédard et al. 2008, Andrade et al. 2009), although in some cases the values obtained do not match the recommended values given by the organisation that prepared the material and a huge disparity in the results and methods has been found.…”

“…The Sutarno–Steger test was applied to determine the accuracy of the method. This test establishes that the obtained mean can be accepted if where x obtained is the determined mean value, x known is the mean certified (or recommended) value and s known is the corresponding standard deviation ( s ) or uncertainty ( u ) of the certified or recommended value (Sutarno and Steger 1985, Andrade et al. 2009).…”

“…(2009). This is probably due to the fact that the equipment available to contribute data to the Andrade et al. ’s (2009) paper was more modern and had better performance.…”