Project Description

Metallurgical lab needed for lithium analysis in nontoxic, nonflammable and inert rotor samples. Specifically, they are made mostly of amorphous silica gel in fiber glass with about 0.2 to 1.0% lithium by dry sample weight (the lithium is LiCl). Take an entire sample, cut it into fairly small pieces with a knife edge or knife (grinding is not necessary), place the entire sample in a weighed beaker, dry at 150C in a lab oven to constant weight (takes about 15 to 30min), weigh hot or place in desiccator and let cool to room temperature then weigh, add a known amount of deionized H2O and magnetic stir for about 15 min to dissolve the LICl (the silicagel and fiber glass are insoluble), filter a small amount of solution to remove small particles of silicagel or fiberglass (gravity filtration using a coarse grade filter paper such as Fisher's P8 is acceptable), serial dilute to an acceptable concentration for your AA or ICP. Please record the amount of LiCl as weight % Li based on the 150C dry sample weight. This service is requested 2-3 times per month.