The determination of fluorine in rocks and minerals by a pyrohydrolytic method

Abstract

A rapid pyrohydrolytic method, with simple apparatus, is described for the determination of fluorine in rocks and minerals. The sample is heated with a three-component flux in a stream of moist air, and the liberated hydrogen fluoride is absorbed into an alkaline solution. The recovered fluorine is determined either colorimetrically or by means of a fluoride-specific electrode. The method is suitable for determining fluorine at concentrations down to about 50 p.p.m.