CA1179017A - Metal analysis for acid-soluble elements - Google Patents
Metal analysis for acid-soluble elementsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1179017A CA1179017A CA000440207A CA440207A CA1179017A CA 1179017 A CA1179017 A CA 1179017A CA 000440207 A CA000440207 A CA 000440207A CA 440207 A CA440207 A CA 440207A CA 1179017 A CA1179017 A CA 1179017A
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- Prior art keywords
- acid
- sample
- cell
- electrode
- solubilizing agent
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
- G01N27/26—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
- G01N27/416—Systems
- G01N27/42—Measuring deposition or liberation of materials from an electrolyte; Coulometry, i.e. measuring coulomb-equivalent of material in an electrolyte
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/20—Metals
- G01N33/202—Constituents thereof
- G01N33/2028—Metallic constituents
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- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Investigating And Analyzing Materials By Characteristic Methods (AREA)
Abstract
23 Wet chemical, microcomputer-controlled procedure for the rapid dissolution of metal followed by accurate determination of elements in the sample and, more specifically, suited to meet steel industry requirements for control of the level of acid-soluble aluminum in steel during the making of steel, is described. A sample of steel to be tested is normally placed in an electrolytic cell wherein a known portion of the sample is dissolved electrolytically in dilute cold acid. The aluminum content of the resulting solution is determined spectrophotometrically. The apparatus is compact and readily installed near the steelmaking operation.
Description
~ ~'7~
METAL ANALYSIS FOR ACID-SOLUBLE ELEMENTS
The present invention relates to the rapid 5 dissolution of solid samples for the determination of one or more elements, and more particularly to a rapid procedure and reliable apparatus for the determination of the acid-soluble aluminum content of steel.
This application is a division of copending 10 Canadian application Serial Number 400~398, filed April ~, 1982.
During steelma~ing, it is necessary to determine the amount of specific elements which influence the properties. Once this analysis has been made, the is composition can be adjusted to meet the particular specification. In order to carry out the analysis, a sample of the steel is obtained using one of the many available techniques resulting in a solid ~orm, usually disc-like. This sample may be analyzed by several 20 procedures known to the art.
For rapid analysis, samples are usually prepared in the solid form by grinding a surface to a clean and flat condition and then analyzing the ground surface by a technique such as x-ray fluorescence (XRF~
25 or optical emission (OE). In the case o~ certain elements which exist in steel, in both solid solution and compound form, the metallurgically-significant component is usually an acid-soluble component (hydrochloric, nitric or sulfuric acid are frequently used for 30 solubilization). Aluminum is an example of such an element. Amongst other uses, aluminum is used for deoxidation of steel and the acid soluble aluminum content of steel provides a measure of the degree of deoxidation.
The prior art techniques of XRF and OE analysis suffer from the disadvantage that fundamentally they do not distinguish between the acid-soluble and acid-insoluble forms of elements and in fact they tend to respond more to the acid-insoluble form. In pract~ce, `~
.
therefore, supplementary methods for the determination of the acid-soluble fraction are necessary.
An alternative procedure which has been adopted is the determination of elements from an aqueous solution of sample. This procedure requires that fine drillings 5 or millings from the steel sample are covered with strong acid and heated at close to boiling temperature fox about minutes until the steel sample is completely dissolved. Generally, the solution then must be brought to standard volume and acidity prior to analysis by a 10 variety of techniques. The disadvantage of this method is that it generally takes too long for the results of analysis (by any method) to be available soon enough to be of value for process control, i.e., the adjusting of the composition of the steel to a specified range. Any 15 attempt to shorten the time of dissolution by increasing the temperatur~ and/or concentration of the acid may result in the partial dissolution of previously insoluble compounds. For example, in the case of the aluminum determination, the metallurgically-significant aluminum 20 would be overestimated.
The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art by utilizing the approach of quantitative electro-chemical dissolution of a small representative portion of the solid sample followed, 25 sequentially, by the rapid quantitative determination of one or more elements in the solution. More specifically, in the case of the acid-soluble aluminum in steel, the analytical technique preferably used in this invention is the colorimetric method~
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the rapid dissolution of a known quantity of an acid-soluble metal from a test sample, which comprises providing an electroiytic cell containing an aqueous acidic 35 solubilizing agent for the acid~soluble metal and an electrode constructed of electroconductive material which is substantially inert to the solubilizing agent;
positioning the test sample in spaced relationship with respect to the electrode to provide a substantially uniform gap therebetween and to define an electrolysis zone; drawing aqueous acid solubilizing agent from a body thereof exterior to the cell into the electrolysis zone;
circulating the drawn aqueous acidic solubilizing agent 5 through the electrolysis zone across the facing surfaces of the sample and electrode back into the body of acidic solubilizing agent while the sample is maintained at a positive potential and the electrode is maintained at a negative potential, whereby a d.c. current is applied 10 therebetween, to effect contqct between the acidic solubilizing agent and the sample to electrolytically dissolve the metal and to flush gaseous products of electrolysis from the electrolysis zone; effecting separation of the flushed gaseous products of lS electrolysis from the body of acidic solubilizing agent exterior to the elestrolysis zone; continuing the acidic solubilizing agent recirculation and d.c. current application until a predetsrmined value of the integral of current over time is attained based on dissolution o~
20 a predetermined amount of the metal from the sample by said acidic solubilizing agent; and thereafter removing from the electrolytic cell the aqueous acidifying agent containing the predetermined amount o the metal.
A variable concentration at least one 25 additional acid~soluble material usually is present in the sample in elemental form, but alternatively may be present in acid-soluble compound form. In this way, the removed aqueous acidifying agent also contains an amount of the additional acid-soluble material proportional to 30 the concentration thereof in the sample. The amount o~
the additional acid-soluble material present in the removed aqueous acidifying agent may be determined.
Usually it is variations in a relatively narrow range of a low concentration element in a sample which are of 35 concern and the invention is described more particularly herein with reference thereto. However, the invention may be used for analysis for higher concentration materials, provided that proper calibration of the .
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apparatus is effected prior to commencement of the coulometric dissolution o~ sample.
Further, while the invention is described hereinafter with particular reference to steelmaking and steel analysis, the principles of the invention may be 5 applied to other acid-soluble metals and associated elements.
Some advan~ages of the approach of the present invention over prior techniques are that it provides the concentration of the minor constituent, acid-soluble 10 element accurately and with sufficient speed for process control. More specifically, in the case of the acid-soluble aluminum determination in steel, the method is compatible with the existing sample form, the environment characteristic of control laboratories in lS steelmaking shops, and the speed and accuracy requirements of the steelmaking process. In addition, the apparatus which ls utilized in the invention is relatively inexpensive and simple in construction.
T~e invention also includes a novel 20 eleetrolytic cell eonstruction for utilization in the eleetrolytic dissolution of metal in the above-described procedure. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrolysis cell for effecting the rapid dissolution of a known quantity of an 25 acid-soluble metai from a test sample, which comprises an eleetrolytic cell body having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and an open top; an electrode constructed of electroeonductive material and generally fixedly located adjacent the bottom wall of the cell; means establishing 30 electrical connection between the electrode and a source of d.e. electrical power; movable electrically-conductive mounting means for mounting thereto the test sample and for moving the sample into and out of the cell through the open top thereof; means establishing electrical 35 connection between the electrically-conducting means and the source of d.c. electrical power; spacing means for spacing the sample a predetermined distance from the electrode when positioned by the mounting means in the eell adjacent to the electrode to de~ine a uniform gap ~:~l7~
therebetween; and aqueous acid solubilizing agent pump means located in the body in fluid flow communication with the uniform gap for circulating acid solubilizing agent through the uniform gap.
The coulometric dissolution of the 5 substantially predetermined amount of the acid-soluble metal from a steel sample may be effected in any convenient manner. Usually, the coulometric dissolution is effected by contacting the steel sample with a small metered amount of acidic electrolyte recirculating in an 10 electrolytic cell.
In such a cell, the steel sample is used as the anode and is spaced a small distance from an electrically-conductive cathode constructed of any convenient electroconductive material, such as, platinum 15 or graphite. A d.c. voltage is applied to the cell from an external power supply, resulting in current flow. The preferred arrangement is to use a constant current power source. Recirculation of the electrolyte between the electrodes permits the achievement of higher current 20 densities and, as a consequence, quicker dissolution of the steel sample i~ a small volume of electrolyte.
The electrolyte, usually dilute hydrochloric acid, usually of normality from about 0.20 to about 0.50 N, is circulated through the gap between the sample 25 (anode) and the platinum (cathode) to effect electrolytic dissolution of a predetermined portion of the steel sample, to replace electrolytic depletion of hydrogen ion and to purge gaseous by-product, which would otherwise inhibit efficient operation. The circulation preferably 30 is e~fected by pumping the electrolyte through a central opening in the cathode into the gap, passing it radially through the gap in contact with the steel sample and then returning it to the pump. The purged gas is vented from the cell.
The cell and pump configuration are preferably designed to ensure that a small volume of electrolyte, such as about 18 to about 30 ml, is used. This permits the dissolution of a small quantity of steel sample while ~ 5~
still achieving concentrations o~ elements in solution sufficient for accurate analysis. This ~eature enhances the rapidity of the metho~ and the utility thereof for process control.
A novel feature of the invention is that the use of rapid electrolyte recirculation in conjunction with a very dilute acid electrolyte ensures the highest possible current density, hence the highest possible dissolution rate, commensurate with coulometric 10 conditions being achieved, in that the amount of sample going into solution, for all practical purposes, obeys Faraday's Law. The time integral of current, i.e., the cross-product of current and time if the current is held constant, determines the amount of soluble sample which 15 goes into solution. This permits either the calculation of the amount of the element in the steel sample directly from the measured concentration of the element in the solution or direct calibration in terms of the amount of the element in the sample.
Generally, ambient temperatures of about 15 to about 25C are utilized for the electrolytic dissolution of the metals, and hence the inaccuracies of the prior art which result from high temperature partial dissolution of aluminum compounds do not arise.
The electrolyte containing the acid soluble constituents of the steel sample may be drained from the cell into a reser~oir and the concentration of acid-solubilized components determined.
The reservoir into which the cell is drained 30 usually takes the form of a funnel, to permit residual solution to be drained efficiently after sampling. A
filter paper or other filter medium may be placed in the funnel to filter out any acid-insoluble particulate residue which may have been released from the sample 35 during electrolysis. The amount of such acid-insoluble residue collected in this way provides an indication of the cleanliness of the sample. The collected acid-insoluble residue may be subjected to an analytical procedure, if desired.
Analysis of the solution in the reservoir may be effected in any convenient manner, depending on the metal for which analysis is being made.
For aluminum, the concentration is preferably determined 5 colorimetrically. In such a procedure, a portion of the electrolyte is mixed with a suitable metallochromic indicator for aluminum and the absorbance of the resulting solution is measured at an appropriate wavelength. The measured absorbance is proportional to 10 the aluminum concentration, The overall procedure may be controlled by a microcomputer, so that an operator need only insert and remove the sample from the electrolytic cell and the result is calculated and displayed or recorded 15 automatically~
The invention is described further, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a schematic flow chart comparing 20 the procedure of the present invention with typical prior art procedures;
Figure 2 is a schematic flow sheet of a rapid acid-soluble determination process and apparatus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 25 invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an electrolysis cell for use in the process and apparatus of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a typical timing chart for the 30 various operations effected in the process and apparatus of Figure 2.
Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated schematically therein the procedure of the present invention in comparison with typical prior art operations. In each case, the procedure involves sample preparation steps and analysis.
As may be seen in Figure 1, one prior art procedure involves grinding of a surface oE the solid metal sample and then analysis of the ground surface by ~ray fluorescence, optical emission or otherwise. As mentioned above, this procedure is unsatisfackory since the analytical techniques cannot differentiate between acid-soluble and acid-insoluble forms of constituents of 5 the sample.
Another prior art procedure involves the formation of drillings or millings from the sample, dissolution in strong acid and adjustment to standard volume and acid strength. Analysis of the solution may 10 be effected by colorimetric, optical emission, atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma, d.c. plasma or any other convenient technique~ As mentioned previously, the major disadvantage of this prior art procedure is that the results of analysis usually are not received lS soon enough to be of value for process control.
As seen in Figure 1, the process of the invention involves an initial grinding of a surface of the sample followed by coulometric dissolution of acid-soluble metals from the sample. The coulometric 20 treatment rapidly dissolves a predetermined amount of the acid-soluble metal, e.g., iron, along with an amount of a minor constituent, acid-soluble element which corresponds to the proportion of that constituent in the sample.
Analysis of the resulting solution by any convenient 25 technique, such as, colorimetric, optical emission, atomic absorption, inductively-coupled plasma or d.c.
plasma analysis, then determines the proportion of minor constituent element present in relation to the acid-soluble metal, thereby providing a determination of 30 the concentration of the minor constituent element in the sample.
Since the coulometric dissolution and subsequent analysis can be effected rapidly and quantitatively in a total of less than about 5 minutes, 35 normally less than about 3 minutes, the procedure can be used effectively for process control, enabling the composition of steel or other acid-soluble metal to be adjusted and maintained within a specified range of acid-soluble minor constituent element(s).
7{~
. 9 The contrasts between the procedure of this invention and the prior art analytical procedures and the advantages which flow therefrom can be readily seen from Figure 1 and the above description thereof.
Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, there is illustrated therein an apparatus for effecting the analytical technique of the invention. An electrolytic cell 10 receives a steel sample for analysis by line 12.
The solid steel sample usually takes the form of a disc.
10 Fresh hydrochloric acid at an ambient temperature of about 15 to about 25C is pumped by a metering pump 14 from an acid source 16 by line 18 into the cell lOo The hydrochloric acid provides a pool of electrolyte within the cell in which the cell electrodes, one of which is lS provided by the metal sample, are immersed. The hydrochloric acid is recirculated within the cell lO by an internal pump.
A drain line 20 communicates with the electrolytic cell 10 to drain the hydrochloric acid from 20 the cell lO when desired. A solenoid valve 22 communicates with the lower end of the drain line 20 and normally closes the same against liquid flow out of the cell lO. Upon actuation of the solenoid valve 22, the liquor flows out of the cell lO, down the drain line 20, 25 through the valve 22, through a further line 24 and into a reservoir 26.
The reservoir 26 is joined to a drain line 28 through a ~olenoid valve 30 which normally prevents flow from the reservoir 26 to the drain line 28 but may be 0 selectively activated to permit such flow.
A peristaltic proportioning pump 32 is connected to the reservoir 26 by line 34. The pump 32 also is connected, by line 36, to a storage vessel 38 for a solution of a metallochromic indicator, and by line 40 to a storage vessel 42 for an ascorbic acid solution, which acts as an oxidation inhibitor.
The outlet lines 44, 46 and 48 from the peristaltic pump 32 corresponding to the inlet lines 34, 36 and 40 respectively merge to a single flow line 50, ~.~7~3~3~
which is of a length to permik substantially maximum development of the absorbance to be measured to occur.
A debubbler 52 communicates with the downstream end of the flow line 50 to removed gas bubbles from the 5 mixed streams, gases being vented by line 54. An inlet line 56 for a molecular absorption spectrophotometer 58 receives the debubbled liquid from the debubbler 52. The peristaltic pump 32 communicates with -the outlet side of the spectrophotometer 58 by line 60 and pumps the liquid 10 to drain by line 62.
The signal resulting from exposure of the liquid in the absorption cell of the spectrophotometer 58 to radiation and corresponding to the transmittance of the liquid is processed to a readout 64. For example, 15 the signal may be passed to a microcomputer which determines the aluminum content of the metal sample from the value of the transmittance and displays the same on a video terminal fed by the microcomputer. When a microcomputer is used in this way, it may also be used to 20 control the operation of various components of the system.
The rapid acid-soluble aluminum determination apparatus of Figure ~ is compact and is readily installed adjacent the steelmaking operation, so that the aluminum 25 content of the steel can be readily and rapidly determined, and adjusted, if necessary.
The detailed construction of the electrolytic cell 10 as shown in Figure 3 now will be described. The cell 10 comprises a body 66 formed of any convenient 30 corrosion-resistant material and having cavities 68 and located therein contiguous with one another. A
platinum disc electrode 72 having a central opening 74 is mounted on support member 76 located in the bottom of the cavi~ty 68 in raised relation to the bottom wall 77 of the 5 cavity to facilitate liquor flow. The support member 76 has a vertically-directed bore 78 therein which is aligned with the central opening 74 of the electrode 72 and also with a vertical bore 80 which extends through the bottom of the body 66, the bore 80 communicating with , . . ~ -~.~ '7~ '7 the drain line 20 (see figure 2). The platinum disc 72 is electrically-connected by a power lead 81 to a suitable d.c; power source.
A removable magnetic holder 82 is connected by 5 a power lead 83 to the d.c. power source and is used to removably mount a disc-like steel sample 84 in the cell 10. The sample 8~ is located by the holder 82 to be substantially coaxial with the platinum disc 72 and spaced therefrom to define a uniform gap 86 which forms 10 an electrolysis zone between the sample 84 and the platinum disc 72. Non-conductive spacer elements 88 are used to maintain a predetermined dimension for the uniform gap 86, usually about 2 to about 3 mm.
A pump impeller element 90 is located in a 15 recess 92 located at the bottom of the cavity 70 and is driven by a motor 94. The recess 92 defines a pumping chamber and is located below the level of the bottom wall 77 of the cavity 68. The recess 92 communicates with the bore 80 via a transverse bore 96 which extends between 20 the two in the body 66 of the cell 10. Dilute hydrochloric acid, or other aqueous acidic solubilizing agent, is pumped by the impeller 90 from the recess 92 through the bore 96, the bore 80 and the bore 78 into the gap 86 between the platinum disc 72 and the sample 84.
25 Pumped liquor flows back into the recess 92 under the influence of gravity. The transfer time from the gap 86 to the recess 92 should be sufficient to ensure complete separation of gas bubbles from the electrolyte.
The hydrochloric acid feed line 18 communicates 30 with the interior of the cavity 68 through an opening 98 located in the side wall of the body 66.
In operation, the steel sample 8~ is analyzed for acid-soluble aluminum ccntent. The small steel disc, typically of diameter from about 20 to about 40 mm, first is ground both to remove any surface oxide scale and also to remove the immediate surface layer of the steel which may be depleted of acid-soluble aluminum, as a result of surface reactions with the air and confining surfaces.
For proper functioning and accurate testing, it is , ~ .
.
~ 3~ ~
essential to provide a clean flat surface of controlled area.
The sample disc 84, after surface grinding, is manually positioned in the cell 10 with the ground 5 surface towards the platinum disc 72. A metered amount of dilute hydrochloric acid is then pumped into the cell 10 from the source 16 by metering pump 14 so as to enter the electrolysis zone 86 and wet the ground surface of the disc sample 84.
The pump motor 94 is started up to circulate the dilute hydrochloric acid pool through the orifice 74 in the platinum disc 72, radially through the electrolysis zone 86 and back to the impeller recess 92.
The flow rate of the acid in the electrolysis zone 86 may lS vary widely provided that it permits electrolytic dissolution of metallic ions from the disc sample 84 and effects flushing of by-product gases. Usually the flow rate is ~n the range of about 400 to about 1000 ml/min.
Once the pump 94 is circulating the 20 electrolyte, a constant current d.c. power is applied by a suitable power supply with the steel sample disc 84 being at a positive electrical potential and the platinum disc 72 being at a negative electrical potential. The current density applied should be sufficient to effect 25 satisfactory electrolytic dissolution of metallic ions, and usually ranges from about 1.0 to about 2.5 amps/cm2.
The reactions of primary interest pertaining to iron and aluminum and which occur at the anode, in acidic solution, may be represented as ~ollows:
Fe 3 Fe2 + 2e +
Al - >Al3 + 3e while, at the cathode, the reaction may be represented by the equation:
2H20 + 2e - ~ H2 + 20H
The hydrogen which is evolved at the cathode pursuant to the latter equation is flushed away by the circulating dilute acid and does not interfere with the electrolytic dissolution of the steel sample. In the absence of such flushing, the ohmic voltage drop of the electrolyte would ~/~ ~
rise in proportion to the displacement of the electrolyte by the hydrogen evolved at the cathode and thereby severely limit the rate at which dissolution of the metallic species could occur at the anode. The flushed 5 hydrogen vents from the cell lO, and hence is not recirculated by the pump 94.
Rapid circulation of the dilute acid not only removes evolved gases but also enables the initial acid concentration to be relatively low, since there is no lO chance for the electrolyte to become basic in the region of the anode as a result of the formation of a local high concentration of hydroxyl ion at the cathode. If the electrolyte were to become basic, then the reactions at the anode could be represented by the equations:
Fe ~ 20H - ~ Fe(OH)2 + 2e Al + 40H ~ H2Al3 + H20 + 3e The ability to rapidly dissolve iron and aluminum from a steel sample using a non-oxidizing acid of low normality at ambient room temperature is of 20 considerable importance in ensuring that an accurate determination of acid-insoluble aluminum has been effected. The low temperature and low acidity ensure that acid-soluble aluminum, such as the oxide or silicate, which are partly soluble in hot strong acids, 25 especially upon extended exposure thereto, are not dissolved.
The anodic dissolution procedure which is effected in the electrolytic cell lO puts into solution a weight of sample which is directly proportional to the 30 time integral of current i.e., the cross product of current and time, if the current is held constant~ The current of the cell and the external cell voltage are both monitored during the dissolution of the sample.
Loss of circuit continuity, short circuit or out-of-limit 35 cell voltage may be exhibited to the operator as an "alarm" condition, for example, on a video terminal.
Excessive scale on the back of the steel sample disc 84, corrosion products on the face of the magnet 82 or low level of electrolyte could cause an open circuit 1~
giving rise to the first type of alarm condition. A
short circuit could he caused by the steel sample disc 84 touching the platinum disc 72 as a result of spacer failure or a steel sliver bridging the electrolysis zone 5 or gap 86, giving rise to the second type of alarm condition.
Under normal operating conditions, the cell voltage shows no short period fluctuations but rises very smoothly with time to reflect depletion o~ hydrogen ions 10 in the electrolyte as electrolysis of the steel disc proceeds. Should the pump stall or slow down, the cell voltage fluctuates abnormally and rises above the expected value for that particular time of the cycle, giving rise to the third type of alarm condition.
15 Termination of dissolution of the steel disc occurs when the cross-product of current and time reaches a preset value, usually after a period of about 15 to about 30 seconds.
Once the anodic dissolution of the steel disc 20 is terminated, usually after a period of about 15 to about 30 seconds, the cell 10 is drained through drain line 24 by actuation of solenoid 22 into reservoir 26.
The peristaltic proportioning pump 32 transfers the sample solution from the reservoir 26 by lines 34 and 44 25 to the inlet line 50 where it meets almost simultaneously the product of two other streams, namely indicator solution pumped by lines 36 and 46 from a storage vessel 38 containing any suitable aluminum metal indicator, such as the metallochromic indicator known as CHROME AZUROL-S, 30 and containing a suitable buffer, such as, sodium acetate, and a solution of an oxidation inhibitor pumped by lines 40 and 48 from a storage vessel 42 containing any convenient ferrous ion oxidation inhibitor, such as, ascorbic acid.
The mixture is pumped through line 50 to develop absorbance to be measured in the molecular absorption spectrophotometer 58 and through the debubbler 52 to remove bubbles. The mixture enters the absorption cell of the molecular absorption spectrophotometer 58, before being pumped to drain line 62 through line 60.
The length of the absorption cell depends on the make of the spectrophotometer 58, and is typically about 10 mm.
The sample in the absorption cell is exposed to 5 radiation at a wavelength of 545 nm (characteristic of aluminum), thereby determining the concentration of aluminum in the sample.
When absorbance measurements have been completed, the reservoir 26 is drained to drain line 28 10 by actuation of the solenoid valve 30. Following drainage of the cell 10, the cell 10 is recharged with fresh dilute hydrochloric acid and the current passed in the reverse direction through the electrolytic zone 86 by reversal of the polarities of the sample 84 and the disc 15 72 for a short period of tlme to clean the platinum disc 72. The cell 10 is then again drained by line 20 by actuation of solenoid valve 22 to the receiving vessel 26, which itself is drained by drain line 28 by actuation of solenoid valve 30. The steel sample disc 8~ is then 20 removed manually from the cell.
The analytical procedure makes use of an automated solution analyzer approach which is conventionally operated in a continuous flow mode.
However, in the above described operation, the apparatus 25 operates in a controlled flow mode wherein the peristaltic pump 32 operates only when required to do so.
A microcomputer may be programmed to exercise the peristaltic pump 32 periodically, even though no samples are being run, in order to avoid memory problems in flow 30 rate regulation which may result from static pinching of the tubing by the rollers of the pump.
Other than to insert and remove the sample to be tested and to ensure an adequate chemical supply, the procedure may be free from manual involvement. A
microcomputer may control the various operations, thelr sequence and the timing of each step.
Before routine analysis of steel samples can be carried out following the above-described procedure, the instrumentation must be standardized to ensure accurate and consistent determinations of acid-soluble aluminum content of the steel samples. Similar standardization or calibration is effected for other samples.
A microcomputer may prompt the operator as to 5 when to place a "Low ASA" steel standard in the cell 10 and when to place a 'IHigh ASA" steel standard in the cell 10. The computer has stored in its memory the expected values of percentage acid-soluble aluminum (% Al) for both of the reference materials.
The voltage measured by the spectrophotometer 58 for the "Low AS~", steel sample is considered to correspond to 0.000~ Al and the computer program treats the-voltage reading (V low) as if it corresponds to a transmittance of 100~. The voltage reading (V high) for 15 the 'IHigh ASA" steel sample then is used to determine the value of the expression:
log10 V low V high The ratio of this calculated net absorbance value to the 20 expected value of ~ Al is used to normalize the routine results, prior to correction for non-linearity of the calibration curve relating net absorbance to ~ Al.
The calibration curve is derived from selected reference materials selected to cover the analytical 25 range of 0.000 to 0.300 ~ Al (acid-soluble aluminum).
The two-point standardization procedure described above compensates for batch-to-batch changes in the strength of the hydrochloric acid, the aging of the ascorbic acid, and/or the effectiveness of the 30 metallochromic indicator.
Verification that the instrument is ready for routine analysis can be carried out at any time by running a midrange certified reference material and checking that the value determined is within the limits 35 set for that material.
The invention is illustrated further by the following Example:
Example The apparatus of Figures 2 and 3 was set up and used to determine the acid-soluble aluminum content o~ a steel sample. A steel disc having a diameter of 32mm and 5 a thickness of 12mm was spaced 4mm from a platinum disc of 34mm in diameter.
21ml of an 0.225 N hydrochloric acid solution was pumped into the cell and power was applied across the electrodes from a d.c. voltage source of 24 volts open 10 circuit with the current regulated to 12 amps, corresponding to a nominal current density of 1.5 amps/cma. The hydrochloric acid was circulated within the cell at a nominal flow rate between the electrodes of 500 ml/min.
Following completion of the electrolysis at 240 coulombs, the electrolyte was drained from the cell to the reservoir. Liquor was pumped from the reservoir to the spectrophotometer by the peristaltic pump at a rate of 2.05 ml/min along with 7.00 ml/min of Chrome Azurol-S
20 indicator solution and 2.47 ml/min of ascorbic acid solution. The Chrome Azurol-S indicator solution contained 40 mg of Chrome Azurol-S and 540 mg of sodium acetate in 10 litres of solution. The ascorbic acid solution contained 160 g of ascorbic acid in 10 litres of 25 solution. The sample was analyzed and the aluminum content of the original steel disc was determined to be 0.032 wt.%.
The timing chart for the procedure of this Example appears as Figure 4 of the drawings. Dissolution 30 of the sample occurs in 20 seconds and the whole operation is complete in 115 seconds. The procedure, therefore, rapidly determined the aluminum content of the steel sample.
In summary of this disclosure, there is provided a method for the rapid dissolution of a predetermined portion of a solid steel sample or other acid-soluble metal sample, in an aqueous acid solution for the purpose of quantitative determination of one or more elements in the solution. The invention has 9~ 7 specific application to the accurate and rapid determination of the acid-solubl~ aluminum content of steel samples which arise in the makiny of steel.
Modifications are possible within the scope of this 5 invention.
METAL ANALYSIS FOR ACID-SOLUBLE ELEMENTS
The present invention relates to the rapid 5 dissolution of solid samples for the determination of one or more elements, and more particularly to a rapid procedure and reliable apparatus for the determination of the acid-soluble aluminum content of steel.
This application is a division of copending 10 Canadian application Serial Number 400~398, filed April ~, 1982.
During steelma~ing, it is necessary to determine the amount of specific elements which influence the properties. Once this analysis has been made, the is composition can be adjusted to meet the particular specification. In order to carry out the analysis, a sample of the steel is obtained using one of the many available techniques resulting in a solid ~orm, usually disc-like. This sample may be analyzed by several 20 procedures known to the art.
For rapid analysis, samples are usually prepared in the solid form by grinding a surface to a clean and flat condition and then analyzing the ground surface by a technique such as x-ray fluorescence (XRF~
25 or optical emission (OE). In the case o~ certain elements which exist in steel, in both solid solution and compound form, the metallurgically-significant component is usually an acid-soluble component (hydrochloric, nitric or sulfuric acid are frequently used for 30 solubilization). Aluminum is an example of such an element. Amongst other uses, aluminum is used for deoxidation of steel and the acid soluble aluminum content of steel provides a measure of the degree of deoxidation.
The prior art techniques of XRF and OE analysis suffer from the disadvantage that fundamentally they do not distinguish between the acid-soluble and acid-insoluble forms of elements and in fact they tend to respond more to the acid-insoluble form. In pract~ce, `~
.
therefore, supplementary methods for the determination of the acid-soluble fraction are necessary.
An alternative procedure which has been adopted is the determination of elements from an aqueous solution of sample. This procedure requires that fine drillings 5 or millings from the steel sample are covered with strong acid and heated at close to boiling temperature fox about minutes until the steel sample is completely dissolved. Generally, the solution then must be brought to standard volume and acidity prior to analysis by a 10 variety of techniques. The disadvantage of this method is that it generally takes too long for the results of analysis (by any method) to be available soon enough to be of value for process control, i.e., the adjusting of the composition of the steel to a specified range. Any 15 attempt to shorten the time of dissolution by increasing the temperatur~ and/or concentration of the acid may result in the partial dissolution of previously insoluble compounds. For example, in the case of the aluminum determination, the metallurgically-significant aluminum 20 would be overestimated.
The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art by utilizing the approach of quantitative electro-chemical dissolution of a small representative portion of the solid sample followed, 25 sequentially, by the rapid quantitative determination of one or more elements in the solution. More specifically, in the case of the acid-soluble aluminum in steel, the analytical technique preferably used in this invention is the colorimetric method~
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the rapid dissolution of a known quantity of an acid-soluble metal from a test sample, which comprises providing an electroiytic cell containing an aqueous acidic 35 solubilizing agent for the acid~soluble metal and an electrode constructed of electroconductive material which is substantially inert to the solubilizing agent;
positioning the test sample in spaced relationship with respect to the electrode to provide a substantially uniform gap therebetween and to define an electrolysis zone; drawing aqueous acid solubilizing agent from a body thereof exterior to the cell into the electrolysis zone;
circulating the drawn aqueous acidic solubilizing agent 5 through the electrolysis zone across the facing surfaces of the sample and electrode back into the body of acidic solubilizing agent while the sample is maintained at a positive potential and the electrode is maintained at a negative potential, whereby a d.c. current is applied 10 therebetween, to effect contqct between the acidic solubilizing agent and the sample to electrolytically dissolve the metal and to flush gaseous products of electrolysis from the electrolysis zone; effecting separation of the flushed gaseous products of lS electrolysis from the body of acidic solubilizing agent exterior to the elestrolysis zone; continuing the acidic solubilizing agent recirculation and d.c. current application until a predetsrmined value of the integral of current over time is attained based on dissolution o~
20 a predetermined amount of the metal from the sample by said acidic solubilizing agent; and thereafter removing from the electrolytic cell the aqueous acidifying agent containing the predetermined amount o the metal.
A variable concentration at least one 25 additional acid~soluble material usually is present in the sample in elemental form, but alternatively may be present in acid-soluble compound form. In this way, the removed aqueous acidifying agent also contains an amount of the additional acid-soluble material proportional to 30 the concentration thereof in the sample. The amount o~
the additional acid-soluble material present in the removed aqueous acidifying agent may be determined.
Usually it is variations in a relatively narrow range of a low concentration element in a sample which are of 35 concern and the invention is described more particularly herein with reference thereto. However, the invention may be used for analysis for higher concentration materials, provided that proper calibration of the .
~7~
apparatus is effected prior to commencement of the coulometric dissolution o~ sample.
Further, while the invention is described hereinafter with particular reference to steelmaking and steel analysis, the principles of the invention may be 5 applied to other acid-soluble metals and associated elements.
Some advan~ages of the approach of the present invention over prior techniques are that it provides the concentration of the minor constituent, acid-soluble 10 element accurately and with sufficient speed for process control. More specifically, in the case of the acid-soluble aluminum determination in steel, the method is compatible with the existing sample form, the environment characteristic of control laboratories in lS steelmaking shops, and the speed and accuracy requirements of the steelmaking process. In addition, the apparatus which ls utilized in the invention is relatively inexpensive and simple in construction.
T~e invention also includes a novel 20 eleetrolytic cell eonstruction for utilization in the eleetrolytic dissolution of metal in the above-described procedure. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrolysis cell for effecting the rapid dissolution of a known quantity of an 25 acid-soluble metai from a test sample, which comprises an eleetrolytic cell body having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and an open top; an electrode constructed of electroeonductive material and generally fixedly located adjacent the bottom wall of the cell; means establishing 30 electrical connection between the electrode and a source of d.e. electrical power; movable electrically-conductive mounting means for mounting thereto the test sample and for moving the sample into and out of the cell through the open top thereof; means establishing electrical 35 connection between the electrically-conducting means and the source of d.c. electrical power; spacing means for spacing the sample a predetermined distance from the electrode when positioned by the mounting means in the eell adjacent to the electrode to de~ine a uniform gap ~:~l7~
therebetween; and aqueous acid solubilizing agent pump means located in the body in fluid flow communication with the uniform gap for circulating acid solubilizing agent through the uniform gap.
The coulometric dissolution of the 5 substantially predetermined amount of the acid-soluble metal from a steel sample may be effected in any convenient manner. Usually, the coulometric dissolution is effected by contacting the steel sample with a small metered amount of acidic electrolyte recirculating in an 10 electrolytic cell.
In such a cell, the steel sample is used as the anode and is spaced a small distance from an electrically-conductive cathode constructed of any convenient electroconductive material, such as, platinum 15 or graphite. A d.c. voltage is applied to the cell from an external power supply, resulting in current flow. The preferred arrangement is to use a constant current power source. Recirculation of the electrolyte between the electrodes permits the achievement of higher current 20 densities and, as a consequence, quicker dissolution of the steel sample i~ a small volume of electrolyte.
The electrolyte, usually dilute hydrochloric acid, usually of normality from about 0.20 to about 0.50 N, is circulated through the gap between the sample 25 (anode) and the platinum (cathode) to effect electrolytic dissolution of a predetermined portion of the steel sample, to replace electrolytic depletion of hydrogen ion and to purge gaseous by-product, which would otherwise inhibit efficient operation. The circulation preferably 30 is e~fected by pumping the electrolyte through a central opening in the cathode into the gap, passing it radially through the gap in contact with the steel sample and then returning it to the pump. The purged gas is vented from the cell.
The cell and pump configuration are preferably designed to ensure that a small volume of electrolyte, such as about 18 to about 30 ml, is used. This permits the dissolution of a small quantity of steel sample while ~ 5~
still achieving concentrations o~ elements in solution sufficient for accurate analysis. This ~eature enhances the rapidity of the metho~ and the utility thereof for process control.
A novel feature of the invention is that the use of rapid electrolyte recirculation in conjunction with a very dilute acid electrolyte ensures the highest possible current density, hence the highest possible dissolution rate, commensurate with coulometric 10 conditions being achieved, in that the amount of sample going into solution, for all practical purposes, obeys Faraday's Law. The time integral of current, i.e., the cross-product of current and time if the current is held constant, determines the amount of soluble sample which 15 goes into solution. This permits either the calculation of the amount of the element in the steel sample directly from the measured concentration of the element in the solution or direct calibration in terms of the amount of the element in the sample.
Generally, ambient temperatures of about 15 to about 25C are utilized for the electrolytic dissolution of the metals, and hence the inaccuracies of the prior art which result from high temperature partial dissolution of aluminum compounds do not arise.
The electrolyte containing the acid soluble constituents of the steel sample may be drained from the cell into a reser~oir and the concentration of acid-solubilized components determined.
The reservoir into which the cell is drained 30 usually takes the form of a funnel, to permit residual solution to be drained efficiently after sampling. A
filter paper or other filter medium may be placed in the funnel to filter out any acid-insoluble particulate residue which may have been released from the sample 35 during electrolysis. The amount of such acid-insoluble residue collected in this way provides an indication of the cleanliness of the sample. The collected acid-insoluble residue may be subjected to an analytical procedure, if desired.
Analysis of the solution in the reservoir may be effected in any convenient manner, depending on the metal for which analysis is being made.
For aluminum, the concentration is preferably determined 5 colorimetrically. In such a procedure, a portion of the electrolyte is mixed with a suitable metallochromic indicator for aluminum and the absorbance of the resulting solution is measured at an appropriate wavelength. The measured absorbance is proportional to 10 the aluminum concentration, The overall procedure may be controlled by a microcomputer, so that an operator need only insert and remove the sample from the electrolytic cell and the result is calculated and displayed or recorded 15 automatically~
The invention is described further, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a schematic flow chart comparing 20 the procedure of the present invention with typical prior art procedures;
Figure 2 is a schematic flow sheet of a rapid acid-soluble determination process and apparatus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 25 invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an electrolysis cell for use in the process and apparatus of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a typical timing chart for the 30 various operations effected in the process and apparatus of Figure 2.
Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated schematically therein the procedure of the present invention in comparison with typical prior art operations. In each case, the procedure involves sample preparation steps and analysis.
As may be seen in Figure 1, one prior art procedure involves grinding of a surface oE the solid metal sample and then analysis of the ground surface by ~ray fluorescence, optical emission or otherwise. As mentioned above, this procedure is unsatisfackory since the analytical techniques cannot differentiate between acid-soluble and acid-insoluble forms of constituents of 5 the sample.
Another prior art procedure involves the formation of drillings or millings from the sample, dissolution in strong acid and adjustment to standard volume and acid strength. Analysis of the solution may 10 be effected by colorimetric, optical emission, atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma, d.c. plasma or any other convenient technique~ As mentioned previously, the major disadvantage of this prior art procedure is that the results of analysis usually are not received lS soon enough to be of value for process control.
As seen in Figure 1, the process of the invention involves an initial grinding of a surface of the sample followed by coulometric dissolution of acid-soluble metals from the sample. The coulometric 20 treatment rapidly dissolves a predetermined amount of the acid-soluble metal, e.g., iron, along with an amount of a minor constituent, acid-soluble element which corresponds to the proportion of that constituent in the sample.
Analysis of the resulting solution by any convenient 25 technique, such as, colorimetric, optical emission, atomic absorption, inductively-coupled plasma or d.c.
plasma analysis, then determines the proportion of minor constituent element present in relation to the acid-soluble metal, thereby providing a determination of 30 the concentration of the minor constituent element in the sample.
Since the coulometric dissolution and subsequent analysis can be effected rapidly and quantitatively in a total of less than about 5 minutes, 35 normally less than about 3 minutes, the procedure can be used effectively for process control, enabling the composition of steel or other acid-soluble metal to be adjusted and maintained within a specified range of acid-soluble minor constituent element(s).
7{~
. 9 The contrasts between the procedure of this invention and the prior art analytical procedures and the advantages which flow therefrom can be readily seen from Figure 1 and the above description thereof.
Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, there is illustrated therein an apparatus for effecting the analytical technique of the invention. An electrolytic cell 10 receives a steel sample for analysis by line 12.
The solid steel sample usually takes the form of a disc.
10 Fresh hydrochloric acid at an ambient temperature of about 15 to about 25C is pumped by a metering pump 14 from an acid source 16 by line 18 into the cell lOo The hydrochloric acid provides a pool of electrolyte within the cell in which the cell electrodes, one of which is lS provided by the metal sample, are immersed. The hydrochloric acid is recirculated within the cell lO by an internal pump.
A drain line 20 communicates with the electrolytic cell 10 to drain the hydrochloric acid from 20 the cell lO when desired. A solenoid valve 22 communicates with the lower end of the drain line 20 and normally closes the same against liquid flow out of the cell lO. Upon actuation of the solenoid valve 22, the liquor flows out of the cell lO, down the drain line 20, 25 through the valve 22, through a further line 24 and into a reservoir 26.
The reservoir 26 is joined to a drain line 28 through a ~olenoid valve 30 which normally prevents flow from the reservoir 26 to the drain line 28 but may be 0 selectively activated to permit such flow.
A peristaltic proportioning pump 32 is connected to the reservoir 26 by line 34. The pump 32 also is connected, by line 36, to a storage vessel 38 for a solution of a metallochromic indicator, and by line 40 to a storage vessel 42 for an ascorbic acid solution, which acts as an oxidation inhibitor.
The outlet lines 44, 46 and 48 from the peristaltic pump 32 corresponding to the inlet lines 34, 36 and 40 respectively merge to a single flow line 50, ~.~7~3~3~
which is of a length to permik substantially maximum development of the absorbance to be measured to occur.
A debubbler 52 communicates with the downstream end of the flow line 50 to removed gas bubbles from the 5 mixed streams, gases being vented by line 54. An inlet line 56 for a molecular absorption spectrophotometer 58 receives the debubbled liquid from the debubbler 52. The peristaltic pump 32 communicates with -the outlet side of the spectrophotometer 58 by line 60 and pumps the liquid 10 to drain by line 62.
The signal resulting from exposure of the liquid in the absorption cell of the spectrophotometer 58 to radiation and corresponding to the transmittance of the liquid is processed to a readout 64. For example, 15 the signal may be passed to a microcomputer which determines the aluminum content of the metal sample from the value of the transmittance and displays the same on a video terminal fed by the microcomputer. When a microcomputer is used in this way, it may also be used to 20 control the operation of various components of the system.
The rapid acid-soluble aluminum determination apparatus of Figure ~ is compact and is readily installed adjacent the steelmaking operation, so that the aluminum 25 content of the steel can be readily and rapidly determined, and adjusted, if necessary.
The detailed construction of the electrolytic cell 10 as shown in Figure 3 now will be described. The cell 10 comprises a body 66 formed of any convenient 30 corrosion-resistant material and having cavities 68 and located therein contiguous with one another. A
platinum disc electrode 72 having a central opening 74 is mounted on support member 76 located in the bottom of the cavi~ty 68 in raised relation to the bottom wall 77 of the 5 cavity to facilitate liquor flow. The support member 76 has a vertically-directed bore 78 therein which is aligned with the central opening 74 of the electrode 72 and also with a vertical bore 80 which extends through the bottom of the body 66, the bore 80 communicating with , . . ~ -~.~ '7~ '7 the drain line 20 (see figure 2). The platinum disc 72 is electrically-connected by a power lead 81 to a suitable d.c; power source.
A removable magnetic holder 82 is connected by 5 a power lead 83 to the d.c. power source and is used to removably mount a disc-like steel sample 84 in the cell 10. The sample 8~ is located by the holder 82 to be substantially coaxial with the platinum disc 72 and spaced therefrom to define a uniform gap 86 which forms 10 an electrolysis zone between the sample 84 and the platinum disc 72. Non-conductive spacer elements 88 are used to maintain a predetermined dimension for the uniform gap 86, usually about 2 to about 3 mm.
A pump impeller element 90 is located in a 15 recess 92 located at the bottom of the cavity 70 and is driven by a motor 94. The recess 92 defines a pumping chamber and is located below the level of the bottom wall 77 of the cavity 68. The recess 92 communicates with the bore 80 via a transverse bore 96 which extends between 20 the two in the body 66 of the cell 10. Dilute hydrochloric acid, or other aqueous acidic solubilizing agent, is pumped by the impeller 90 from the recess 92 through the bore 96, the bore 80 and the bore 78 into the gap 86 between the platinum disc 72 and the sample 84.
25 Pumped liquor flows back into the recess 92 under the influence of gravity. The transfer time from the gap 86 to the recess 92 should be sufficient to ensure complete separation of gas bubbles from the electrolyte.
The hydrochloric acid feed line 18 communicates 30 with the interior of the cavity 68 through an opening 98 located in the side wall of the body 66.
In operation, the steel sample 8~ is analyzed for acid-soluble aluminum ccntent. The small steel disc, typically of diameter from about 20 to about 40 mm, first is ground both to remove any surface oxide scale and also to remove the immediate surface layer of the steel which may be depleted of acid-soluble aluminum, as a result of surface reactions with the air and confining surfaces.
For proper functioning and accurate testing, it is , ~ .
.
~ 3~ ~
essential to provide a clean flat surface of controlled area.
The sample disc 84, after surface grinding, is manually positioned in the cell 10 with the ground 5 surface towards the platinum disc 72. A metered amount of dilute hydrochloric acid is then pumped into the cell 10 from the source 16 by metering pump 14 so as to enter the electrolysis zone 86 and wet the ground surface of the disc sample 84.
The pump motor 94 is started up to circulate the dilute hydrochloric acid pool through the orifice 74 in the platinum disc 72, radially through the electrolysis zone 86 and back to the impeller recess 92.
The flow rate of the acid in the electrolysis zone 86 may lS vary widely provided that it permits electrolytic dissolution of metallic ions from the disc sample 84 and effects flushing of by-product gases. Usually the flow rate is ~n the range of about 400 to about 1000 ml/min.
Once the pump 94 is circulating the 20 electrolyte, a constant current d.c. power is applied by a suitable power supply with the steel sample disc 84 being at a positive electrical potential and the platinum disc 72 being at a negative electrical potential. The current density applied should be sufficient to effect 25 satisfactory electrolytic dissolution of metallic ions, and usually ranges from about 1.0 to about 2.5 amps/cm2.
The reactions of primary interest pertaining to iron and aluminum and which occur at the anode, in acidic solution, may be represented as ~ollows:
Fe 3 Fe2 + 2e +
Al - >Al3 + 3e while, at the cathode, the reaction may be represented by the equation:
2H20 + 2e - ~ H2 + 20H
The hydrogen which is evolved at the cathode pursuant to the latter equation is flushed away by the circulating dilute acid and does not interfere with the electrolytic dissolution of the steel sample. In the absence of such flushing, the ohmic voltage drop of the electrolyte would ~/~ ~
rise in proportion to the displacement of the electrolyte by the hydrogen evolved at the cathode and thereby severely limit the rate at which dissolution of the metallic species could occur at the anode. The flushed 5 hydrogen vents from the cell lO, and hence is not recirculated by the pump 94.
Rapid circulation of the dilute acid not only removes evolved gases but also enables the initial acid concentration to be relatively low, since there is no lO chance for the electrolyte to become basic in the region of the anode as a result of the formation of a local high concentration of hydroxyl ion at the cathode. If the electrolyte were to become basic, then the reactions at the anode could be represented by the equations:
Fe ~ 20H - ~ Fe(OH)2 + 2e Al + 40H ~ H2Al3 + H20 + 3e The ability to rapidly dissolve iron and aluminum from a steel sample using a non-oxidizing acid of low normality at ambient room temperature is of 20 considerable importance in ensuring that an accurate determination of acid-insoluble aluminum has been effected. The low temperature and low acidity ensure that acid-soluble aluminum, such as the oxide or silicate, which are partly soluble in hot strong acids, 25 especially upon extended exposure thereto, are not dissolved.
The anodic dissolution procedure which is effected in the electrolytic cell lO puts into solution a weight of sample which is directly proportional to the 30 time integral of current i.e., the cross product of current and time, if the current is held constant~ The current of the cell and the external cell voltage are both monitored during the dissolution of the sample.
Loss of circuit continuity, short circuit or out-of-limit 35 cell voltage may be exhibited to the operator as an "alarm" condition, for example, on a video terminal.
Excessive scale on the back of the steel sample disc 84, corrosion products on the face of the magnet 82 or low level of electrolyte could cause an open circuit 1~
giving rise to the first type of alarm condition. A
short circuit could he caused by the steel sample disc 84 touching the platinum disc 72 as a result of spacer failure or a steel sliver bridging the electrolysis zone 5 or gap 86, giving rise to the second type of alarm condition.
Under normal operating conditions, the cell voltage shows no short period fluctuations but rises very smoothly with time to reflect depletion o~ hydrogen ions 10 in the electrolyte as electrolysis of the steel disc proceeds. Should the pump stall or slow down, the cell voltage fluctuates abnormally and rises above the expected value for that particular time of the cycle, giving rise to the third type of alarm condition.
15 Termination of dissolution of the steel disc occurs when the cross-product of current and time reaches a preset value, usually after a period of about 15 to about 30 seconds.
Once the anodic dissolution of the steel disc 20 is terminated, usually after a period of about 15 to about 30 seconds, the cell 10 is drained through drain line 24 by actuation of solenoid 22 into reservoir 26.
The peristaltic proportioning pump 32 transfers the sample solution from the reservoir 26 by lines 34 and 44 25 to the inlet line 50 where it meets almost simultaneously the product of two other streams, namely indicator solution pumped by lines 36 and 46 from a storage vessel 38 containing any suitable aluminum metal indicator, such as the metallochromic indicator known as CHROME AZUROL-S, 30 and containing a suitable buffer, such as, sodium acetate, and a solution of an oxidation inhibitor pumped by lines 40 and 48 from a storage vessel 42 containing any convenient ferrous ion oxidation inhibitor, such as, ascorbic acid.
The mixture is pumped through line 50 to develop absorbance to be measured in the molecular absorption spectrophotometer 58 and through the debubbler 52 to remove bubbles. The mixture enters the absorption cell of the molecular absorption spectrophotometer 58, before being pumped to drain line 62 through line 60.
The length of the absorption cell depends on the make of the spectrophotometer 58, and is typically about 10 mm.
The sample in the absorption cell is exposed to 5 radiation at a wavelength of 545 nm (characteristic of aluminum), thereby determining the concentration of aluminum in the sample.
When absorbance measurements have been completed, the reservoir 26 is drained to drain line 28 10 by actuation of the solenoid valve 30. Following drainage of the cell 10, the cell 10 is recharged with fresh dilute hydrochloric acid and the current passed in the reverse direction through the electrolytic zone 86 by reversal of the polarities of the sample 84 and the disc 15 72 for a short period of tlme to clean the platinum disc 72. The cell 10 is then again drained by line 20 by actuation of solenoid valve 22 to the receiving vessel 26, which itself is drained by drain line 28 by actuation of solenoid valve 30. The steel sample disc 8~ is then 20 removed manually from the cell.
The analytical procedure makes use of an automated solution analyzer approach which is conventionally operated in a continuous flow mode.
However, in the above described operation, the apparatus 25 operates in a controlled flow mode wherein the peristaltic pump 32 operates only when required to do so.
A microcomputer may be programmed to exercise the peristaltic pump 32 periodically, even though no samples are being run, in order to avoid memory problems in flow 30 rate regulation which may result from static pinching of the tubing by the rollers of the pump.
Other than to insert and remove the sample to be tested and to ensure an adequate chemical supply, the procedure may be free from manual involvement. A
microcomputer may control the various operations, thelr sequence and the timing of each step.
Before routine analysis of steel samples can be carried out following the above-described procedure, the instrumentation must be standardized to ensure accurate and consistent determinations of acid-soluble aluminum content of the steel samples. Similar standardization or calibration is effected for other samples.
A microcomputer may prompt the operator as to 5 when to place a "Low ASA" steel standard in the cell 10 and when to place a 'IHigh ASA" steel standard in the cell 10. The computer has stored in its memory the expected values of percentage acid-soluble aluminum (% Al) for both of the reference materials.
The voltage measured by the spectrophotometer 58 for the "Low AS~", steel sample is considered to correspond to 0.000~ Al and the computer program treats the-voltage reading (V low) as if it corresponds to a transmittance of 100~. The voltage reading (V high) for 15 the 'IHigh ASA" steel sample then is used to determine the value of the expression:
log10 V low V high The ratio of this calculated net absorbance value to the 20 expected value of ~ Al is used to normalize the routine results, prior to correction for non-linearity of the calibration curve relating net absorbance to ~ Al.
The calibration curve is derived from selected reference materials selected to cover the analytical 25 range of 0.000 to 0.300 ~ Al (acid-soluble aluminum).
The two-point standardization procedure described above compensates for batch-to-batch changes in the strength of the hydrochloric acid, the aging of the ascorbic acid, and/or the effectiveness of the 30 metallochromic indicator.
Verification that the instrument is ready for routine analysis can be carried out at any time by running a midrange certified reference material and checking that the value determined is within the limits 35 set for that material.
The invention is illustrated further by the following Example:
Example The apparatus of Figures 2 and 3 was set up and used to determine the acid-soluble aluminum content o~ a steel sample. A steel disc having a diameter of 32mm and 5 a thickness of 12mm was spaced 4mm from a platinum disc of 34mm in diameter.
21ml of an 0.225 N hydrochloric acid solution was pumped into the cell and power was applied across the electrodes from a d.c. voltage source of 24 volts open 10 circuit with the current regulated to 12 amps, corresponding to a nominal current density of 1.5 amps/cma. The hydrochloric acid was circulated within the cell at a nominal flow rate between the electrodes of 500 ml/min.
Following completion of the electrolysis at 240 coulombs, the electrolyte was drained from the cell to the reservoir. Liquor was pumped from the reservoir to the spectrophotometer by the peristaltic pump at a rate of 2.05 ml/min along with 7.00 ml/min of Chrome Azurol-S
20 indicator solution and 2.47 ml/min of ascorbic acid solution. The Chrome Azurol-S indicator solution contained 40 mg of Chrome Azurol-S and 540 mg of sodium acetate in 10 litres of solution. The ascorbic acid solution contained 160 g of ascorbic acid in 10 litres of 25 solution. The sample was analyzed and the aluminum content of the original steel disc was determined to be 0.032 wt.%.
The timing chart for the procedure of this Example appears as Figure 4 of the drawings. Dissolution 30 of the sample occurs in 20 seconds and the whole operation is complete in 115 seconds. The procedure, therefore, rapidly determined the aluminum content of the steel sample.
In summary of this disclosure, there is provided a method for the rapid dissolution of a predetermined portion of a solid steel sample or other acid-soluble metal sample, in an aqueous acid solution for the purpose of quantitative determination of one or more elements in the solution. The invention has 9~ 7 specific application to the accurate and rapid determination of the acid-solubl~ aluminum content of steel samples which arise in the makiny of steel.
Modifications are possible within the scope of this 5 invention.
Claims (18)
1. A method for the rapid dissolution of a known quantity of an acid-soluble metal from a test sample, which comprises:
providing an electrolytic cell containing an aqueous acidic solubilizing agent for said acid-soluble metal and an electrode constructed of electroconductive material which is substantially inert to the solubilizing agent, positioning said test sample in spaced relationship with respect to said electrode to provide a substantially uniform gap therebetween and to define an electrolysis zone, drawing aqueous acid solubilizing agent from a body thereof exterior to said cell into said electrolysis zone, circulating said drawn aqueous acidic solubilizing agent through said electrolysis zone across the facing surfaces of said sample and electrode back into the body of acidic solubilizing agent while the sample is maintained at a positive potential and said electrode is maintained at a negative potential, whereby a d.c. current is applied therebetween, to effect contact between said acidic solubilizing agent and said sample to electrolytically dissolve said metal and to flush gaseous products of electrolysis from said electrolysis zone, effecting separation of said flushed gaseous products of electrolysis from said body of acidic solubilizing agent exterior to said electrolysis zone, continuing said acidic solubilizing agent recirculation and d.c. current application until a predetermined value of the integral of current over time is attained based on dissolution of a predetermined amount of the metal from said sample by said acidic solubilizing agent, and thereafter removing from said electrolytic cell the aqueous acidifying agent containing the predetermined amount of the metal.
providing an electrolytic cell containing an aqueous acidic solubilizing agent for said acid-soluble metal and an electrode constructed of electroconductive material which is substantially inert to the solubilizing agent, positioning said test sample in spaced relationship with respect to said electrode to provide a substantially uniform gap therebetween and to define an electrolysis zone, drawing aqueous acid solubilizing agent from a body thereof exterior to said cell into said electrolysis zone, circulating said drawn aqueous acidic solubilizing agent through said electrolysis zone across the facing surfaces of said sample and electrode back into the body of acidic solubilizing agent while the sample is maintained at a positive potential and said electrode is maintained at a negative potential, whereby a d.c. current is applied therebetween, to effect contact between said acidic solubilizing agent and said sample to electrolytically dissolve said metal and to flush gaseous products of electrolysis from said electrolysis zone, effecting separation of said flushed gaseous products of electrolysis from said body of acidic solubilizing agent exterior to said electrolysis zone, continuing said acidic solubilizing agent recirculation and d.c. current application until a predetermined value of the integral of current over time is attained based on dissolution of a predetermined amount of the metal from said sample by said acidic solubilizing agent, and thereafter removing from said electrolytic cell the aqueous acidifying agent containing the predetermined amount of the metal.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said metal sample also contains a variable concentration of at least one additional acid-soluble material, whereby said removed aqueous acidifying agent contains an amount of said at least one additional acid-soluble material proportional to the concentration thereof in said sample, and the amount of said at least one additional acid-soluble material present in the removed aqueous acidifying agent is determined.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one additional acid-soluble material is acid-soluble aluminum present in a minor proportion in said sample.
4. The method of claim 3 effected periodically to achieve process control in steelmaking.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein said acid-soluble aluminum content is determined spectrophotometrically.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said spectrophotometric determination is effected by:
mixing said spent aqueous acidifying agent with a metallochromic indicator for aluminum, and measuring the absorbance of the resulting liquid.
mixing said spent aqueous acidifying agent with a metallochromic indicator for aluminum, and measuring the absorbance of the resulting liquid.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein said aqueous acidifying agent is dilute hydrochloric acid of normality from about 0.2 to about 0.5 N, the electrolysis is effected at an ambient temperature of about 15° to about 25°C, said aqueous acidifying agent is recirculated through said electroylsis zone at a flow rate of about 400 to about 1000 ml/min, and a current density of about l.0 to about 2.5 amps/cm2 is applied across said electrolysis zone.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said electrolysis is effected for about 15 to about 30 seconds.
9. The method of claim 3, 6 or 7, wherein said metal sample is steel.
10. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said circulating solubilizing agent enters the electrolysis zone axially of the electrode and passes radially through the electrolysis zone.
11. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said removed aqueous acidifying agent is filtered to remove therefrom acid-insoluble particulates which have been removed from said sample during said electrolysis.
12. An electrolysis cell for effecting the rapid dissolution of a known quantity of an acid-soluble metal from a test sample, which comprises:
an electrolytic cell body having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and an open top, an electrode constructed of electroconductive material and generally fixedly located adjacent the bottom wall of the cell, means establishing electrical connection between said electrode and a source of d.c. electrical power, movable electrically-conductive mounting means for mounting thereto said test sample and for moving said sample into and out of said cell through the open top thereof, means establishing electrical connection between said electrically-conducting means and said source of d.c. electrical power, spacing means for spacing said sample a predetermined distance from said electrode when positioned by said mounting means in said cell adjacent to said electrode to define a uniform gap therebetween, and aqueous acid solubilizing agent pump means located in said body in fluid flow communication with said uniform gap for circulating acid solubilizing agent through said uniform gap.
an electrolytic cell body having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and an open top, an electrode constructed of electroconductive material and generally fixedly located adjacent the bottom wall of the cell, means establishing electrical connection between said electrode and a source of d.c. electrical power, movable electrically-conductive mounting means for mounting thereto said test sample and for moving said sample into and out of said cell through the open top thereof, means establishing electrical connection between said electrically-conducting means and said source of d.c. electrical power, spacing means for spacing said sample a predetermined distance from said electrode when positioned by said mounting means in said cell adjacent to said electrode to define a uniform gap therebetween, and aqueous acid solubilizing agent pump means located in said body in fluid flow communication with said uniform gap for circulating acid solubilizing agent through said uniform gap.
13. The cell of claim 12 wherein said electrode is generally planar and disc-like.
14. The cell of claim 13 wherein said test sample is a steel disc and is located coaxially with said electrode when positioned by said mounting means.
15. The cell of claim 12 wherein said electrode has an opening communicating with a vertically-extending bore, said pump means comprises a recess in the bottom wall of the cell and an impeller located in said recess, a transversely-directed bore extends between the recess and the vertically-extending bore, whereby circulation of said acid-solubilizing agent under the influence of said impeller proceeds from said recess through said transversely-directed bore, through said vertically-extending bore into said uniform gap and from said uniform gap back to said recess.
16. The cell of claim 15 wherein the vertically-extending bore communicates at the opposite end thereof from the opening in said electrode with drain conduit means for selective removal of spent aqueous acidifying agent from the cell, and the drain conduit means communicates with selectively-actuable valve means to selectively permit fluid flow from the cell through the drain conduit means to reservoir means.
17. The cell of claim 12 wherein said mounting means includes a magnet and said test sample is of magnetic material.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous acidic solubilizing agent has a concentration insufficient to effect dissolution of said acid-soluble metal in the absence of electrolytic assistance.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000440207A CA1179017A (en) | 1983-11-01 | 1983-11-01 | Metal analysis for acid-soluble elements |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000440207A CA1179017A (en) | 1983-11-01 | 1983-11-01 | Metal analysis for acid-soluble elements |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000400398A Division CA1175904A (en) | 1982-04-02 | 1982-04-02 | Metal analysis for acid-soluble elements |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1179017A true CA1179017A (en) | 1984-12-04 |
Family
ID=4126425
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000440207A Expired CA1179017A (en) | 1983-11-01 | 1983-11-01 | Metal analysis for acid-soluble elements |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1179017A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2579326A1 (en) * | 1985-03-22 | 1986-09-26 | Minas Gerais Siderurg | Improvements to apparatuses intended for the rapid dissolving of metal alloy samples for chemical analysis |
| EP0293502A1 (en) * | 1986-02-07 | 1988-12-07 | Aluminum Company Of America | Method for analysis of molten metal |
-
1983
- 1983-11-01 CA CA000440207A patent/CA1179017A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2579326A1 (en) * | 1985-03-22 | 1986-09-26 | Minas Gerais Siderurg | Improvements to apparatuses intended for the rapid dissolving of metal alloy samples for chemical analysis |
| EP0293502A1 (en) * | 1986-02-07 | 1988-12-07 | Aluminum Company Of America | Method for analysis of molten metal |
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