Platinum Group Elements

 The Platinum Group Elements (PGE) are extracted in a process known as Nickel Sulphide Fire Assay, in which 25 grams of pulverised sample material is mixed with a Nickel Carbonate based flux and fused at 1120ºC for 1.25 hours. Sulphur in the flux combines with the Nickel Carbonate to form Nickel Sulphide (NiS), which in it's molten state has a powerful affinity for all the PGE. The resultant NiS button containing the PGE is then pulverised and a portion of it digested in Hydrochloric Acid, dissolving the Nickel Sulphide and allowing the PGE to be collected as a residue of element sulphides. This residue is then dissolved in Aqua Regia and anlysed by ICP-MS .

Detection Limits ( Method Code : NSF01 )
Pt (1 ppb)
Pd (1 ppb)
Rh (1 ppb)
Ru (1 ppb)
Os (1 ppb)
Ir (1 ppb)

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