Direct Measurement of Lithium (Li) in Seawater Using the Flame Micro Sampling Method

Introduction

Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometers feature easy maintainability and can also measure samples with a complex matrix. However, when conducting multi-sample measurement of samples with complex matrices, the burner slot may get blocked due to deposits of solid material. In such a case, burner slot blockage can be reduced by using the flame micro sampling method in which only a small amount of sample is injected. This article demonstrates the effectiveness of the flame micro sampling method by introducing example measurements of lithium (Li) in seawater, which has a complex matrix, using the conventional continuous injection method and the flame micro sampling method. Lithium, which is well-known as a battery material, exists in seawater at trace amounts of about 0.1 to 0.2mg/L (10 to 20 μg/100 mL) and technologies for recovering that lithium as a resource are being researched.

July 26, 2018 GMT