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Mining › Analytical Services › Geochemistry › Digestion and Fusion

Mining Multi-Acid (4-Acid) Digestions

Through our global network of laboratories, SGS delivers a broad spectrum of geochemical analysis including multi-acid (4 acid) digests.

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Multi-acid digestion uses a combination of HCl (hydrochloric acid), HNO3 (nitric acid), HF (hydrofluoric acid) and HClO4 (perchloric acid). Because hydrofluoric acid dissolves silicate minerals, these digestions are often referred to as 'near-total digestions'.

Multi-acid (4 acid) digestion is a very effective dissolution procedure for multi-element analysis at trace levels of detection. However, there can be a loss of volatile elements (e.g. B, As, Pb, Ge, Sb) during this type of digestion and some refractory minerals (especially oxide minerals) are only partially digested. Our experts will help you select a method that is fit-for-purpose.

ICP40B - 32 Elements by Four-Acid Digestion / ICP-AES

LIMITS LIMITS LIMITS
Ag 2ppm - 10ppm Fe 0.01% - 15% Sb 5ppm - 1%
Al 0.01% - 15% K 0.01% - 15% Sc 0.5ppm - 1%
As 3ppm - 1% La 0.5ppm - 1% Sn 10ppm - 1%
Ba 1ppm - 1% Li 1ppm - 1% Sr 0.5ppm - 1%
Be 0.5ppm - 0.25% Mg 0.01% - 15% Ti 0.01% - 15%
Bi 5ppm - 1% Mn 2ppm - 1% V 2ppm - 1%
Ca 0.01% - 15% Mo 1ppm - 1% W 10ppm - 1%
Cd 1ppm - 1% Na 0.01% - 15% Y 0.5ppm - 1%
Cr 1ppm - 1% Ni 1ppm - 1% Zn 1ppm - 1%
Co 1ppm - 1% P 0.01% - 15% Zr 0.5ppm - 1%
Cu 0.5ppm - 1% Pb 2ppm - 1%

The following elements can be added to above package:
Ce, Hf, Nb, Rb, Se, Te, Th, U

Elements Which Can Volatilize

As Si Se

Elements Which Can Precipitate Or Have Limited Solubility

Al Mn Ti
Ba Nb Ta
Cr Pb W
Hf Sb Zr
Mo Sn

ICM40B - 49 Elements by Four-Acid Digestion / ICP-AES and ICP-MS

LIMITS LIMITS LIMITS
Ag 0.02ppm - 10ppm K 0.01% - 15% Sn 0.3ppm - 0.1%
Al 0.01% - 15% La 0.1ppm - 1% Sr 0.5ppm - 1%
As 1ppm - 1% Li 1ppm - 1% Ta 0.05ppm - 1%
Ba 1ppm - 1% Lu 0.01ppm - 0.1% Tb 0.05ppm - 1%
Be 0.1ppm - 0.25% Mg 0.01% - 15% Te 0.05ppm - 0.1%
Bi 0.04ppm - 1% Mn 2ppm - 1% Th 0.2ppm - 1%
Ca 0.01% - 15% Mo 0.05ppm - 1% Ti 0.01% - 15%
Cd 0.02ppm - 1% Na 0.01% - 15% Tl 0.02ppm - 1%
Ce 0.05ppm - 0.1% Nb 0.1ppm - 0.1% U 0.05ppm - 1%
Cs 5ppm - 0.1% Ni 0.5ppm - 1% V 2ppm - 1%
Cr 1ppm - 1% P 50ppm - 15% W 0.1ppm - 1%
Co 0.1ppm - 1% Pb 0.5ppm - 1% Y 0.1ppm - 1%
Cu 0.5ppm - 1% Rb 0.2ppm - 1% Yb 0.1ppm - 0.1%
Fe 0.01% - 15% S 0.01% - 5% Zn 1ppm - 1%
Ga 0.1ppm - 0.05% Sb 0.05ppm - 1% Zr 0.5ppm - 1%
Hf 0.02ppm - 0.05% Sc 0.5ppm - 1%
In 0.02ppm - 0.05% Se 2ppm - 0.1%

The following elements can be added to the above package:
Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, Nd, Pr, Sm

HAS40B - Hydride Elements by Four-Acid Digestion / Hydride AAS

LIMITS
Selenium Se 0.2ppm - 1000ppm
Tellurium Te 0.5ppm - 1000ppm

AAS42S - Four-Acid, (Hydrofluoric, Perchloric, Hydrochloric and Nitric Acid) Dissolution to Quantify Major Element Concentrations. AAS Finish

LIMITS LIMITS LIMITS
Ag 5ppm - 500ppm Cr 50ppm - 5% Pb 20ppm - 2.5%
As 0.025% - 5% Cu 10ppm - 50% Sb 100ppm - 2%
Bi 50ppm - 5000ppm Fe 0.01% - 40% V 50ppm - 5%
Ca 0.01% - 40% Mn 10ppm - 5% Zn 10ppm - 5%
Cd 5ppm - 5000ppm Mo 20ppm - 5%
Co 20ppm - 2.5% Ni 10ppm - 5%

ICP42S - Four-Acid, (Hydrofluoric, Perchloric, Hydrochloric and Nitric Acid) Dissolution to Quantify Major Element Concentrations. ICP-AES Finish

LIMITS LIMITS LIMITS
Ag 5ppm - 250ppm Fe 250ppm - 100% Pb 25ppm - 2.5%
AI 250ppm - 40% K 0.1% - 40% Sb 10ppm - 2%
As 20ppm - 2.5% Li 5ppm - 2500ppm Sn 20ppm - 2%
Bi 50ppm - 2.5% Mg 50ppm - 40% Ta 50ppm - 2.5%
Ca 0.01% - 40% Mn 20ppm - 10% Ti 20ppm - 5%
Cd 5ppm - 2% Mo 20ppm - 2.5% V 5ppm - 2.5%
Co 10ppm - 2.5% Na 100ppm - 40% Zn 10ppm - 5%
Cr 20ppm - 5% Ni 20ppm - 2.5% Zr 10ppm - 5%
Cu 10ppm - 2.5% P 0.01% - 25%

AAS43B - Four-Acid (Hydrofluoric, Perchloric, Hydrochloric and Nitric Acid) with Higher Elemental Concentrations. AAS Finish

LIMITS LIMITS LIMITS
Ag 50ppm - 4% Cr 0.03% - 40% Mo 0.02% - 40%
Al 0.1% - 100% Cu 0.01% - 100% Na 0.01% - 50%
As 0.02% - 40% Fe 0.02% - 100% Ni 0.01% - 50%
Bi 0.05% - 4% K 0.01% - 50% Pb 0.01% - 40%
Ca 0.01% - 50% Mg 0.01% - 50% Sb 0.05% - 10%
Cd 50ppm - 4% Mn 0.01% - 40% Zn 0.01% - 100%
Co 0.01% - 2.5%

SGS has a unique depth and breadth of expertise and experience to help guide your analytical method selection and give you confidence in your analytical results. Call us today to discover more.