I would look at X-Ray Diffraction as a possibility.

Elements present can be determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Suitable mass of sample (around 0.2 to 0.5g) must be mixed with lithium tetraborate flux in a suitable Pt crucible and fused at 1200 ºC. The melt dissoved in beaker containig 50ml of HCl 20% over a hot plate and made up to volume (100ml). Solution is then taken to the ICP apparatus. Synthetic standards must have been previously prepared in exact the same way as samples, to achieving matrix matching conditions, adding to the volumetrc flasks containing the melt lithium tetrabotarate dissolved solution, suitable amounts of ICP single element reference standard solutions , in order to run the calibration curves.

ICP-OES is the right technique.

you can determine the compound in evaporator by GC -MS gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry or suitible detector

Sadananda,

Need to ask a question based on the way these answers have shaped up. Are you interested in detecting the intact complexes or just the elemental composition?

it can be analysis using ICP-MS.

Total metal of Ca: Atomic Emission Spectrometry, Iron: AAS or Complexometric and UV.Vis. spectrophotometry, Sulfate: precipitation by Ba(2+).

In my opinion the best technique will be ICP-MS. Good Luck.

To know the elements present with their concentration the ICP-MS is the most suitable technique but to know the

compounds presents(identification) the XRD is suitable

A companation of ICP-MS and FT-IR should identify both inorganic AND organic contenta, then empoying chemical principles of possible compounds that could make the evaporator scals, one can suggest the chemicals involved>

Scale consists of many components and its composition can best be determined using a combination of techniques.AAS, XRD, XRF, ion exchange and HPLC are all applicable techniques. Though dependent on your sample matrix too

ICPMS and GCMS could help to resove the questioin.

I think ICP-MS is an analytical technique used for elemental determinations and GC-MS may be less sensitivity

Hi, great combination of all these is required. It requires great efforts to standardize procedures and therefore one who is actually do it practically may have to spend money, time etc.Standards required must be made available etc

Let us see

vasant phadke

Please continue till job is done -vasant phadke

To the scale, add nitric acid and subject to MW digestion. Filter the solution and aubject filtrate to ICP-MS to get metal contents. Plan another experiment to get organic matter separated using dimethyl ether. Dry the ether extract and make it soluble in methanol Subject methanol extract to GC-MS to analyse the components. Hope this helps you to understand the combination of the scale.

Icp-ms

Icp-ms and gc-ms are the suitable techniques

ICP-MS and GCMS both can help to resolve the question.

Icp - ms or aas

For analysis of Ca salts you can use EDTA titration ,AAS or ICP. ,flam photometer

For K salts AAS ICP and flam photometer are the best options.

For Cl you can use Titration method (against Ag NO3).

for Silica XRD is best option.

Apart from these detection method you need to good hand on stoichiometric calculations to calculate amount of each salt.

For analysis of Fe salts you can use EDTA titration, AAS or ICP methods.

If you need suitable cleaning reagent then go through attached article. If you need more help you can contact me on

[email protected]

Find attached file

Gc ms

Thank you all for your valuable suggestions.

The scale can be analyzed by XRF(non destruction analysis) if the scale are enough much or do as Ramesh M"s suggestion.

Gentlemen, for those suggesting ICP-MS, it is convinient to rememeber that this technique is best suited for trace element determination, from ppm to ppt levels. In the present case I assume that Dr. Sadananda samples are prone to show concentration levels around % or hundreds of ppm. For this range of concentration, AAS or ICP-OES are the techniques to be considered.

ICP-MS, due to its high sensitivity, and its requirements for low TDS (total dissolved solids - in solution), to avoid contamination of the cone and lenses, would translate into enormous dilution ratios, or very small sample mass diluted to large volumes, which would increase errors in reporting the concentrations, and deteriorate accuracy.

For Organic Matter( C, H, N and S) , CHNS analyzer has to be used.

XRD analysis of scale sample may also be tried.

Gc-ms

I think ICP-MS or even LC-MS would be ideal choice. However you have to do prior conditioning of the sample and prepare standards with anaglogous matices.

Gas chromatography - mas spectrometry

Dear sadanand

Get the scales dissolve in dist. water, say 5% concentration. The analyticl methods for such water are given in a book "Water used in textile process' - N. Manivasakam, Sankhi Publications, Coimbatore.