Determination of Alumina Oxide in Bauxites by X-ray Fluorescence Analysis

Abstract

This study relates to determination of the content of aluminium oxide (%Al2O3) in different types of bauxite by the X-ray fluorescence method (XRF). The samples were prepared in the form of beads by the borax method from bauxite, which had been previously annealed. Standard reference samples of bauxite were used to produce a calibration curve and the calibration curve obtained was with very good coefficient of determination r = 0.9992 and standard deviation S = 0.091. After statistical verification of the method (F-test, reference method and standard sample of bauxite), it was concluded that the method was precise and correct and that there were no systemic errors. In addition to this, by the XRF analysis of different types of bauxite the average value of residuals between percent of Al2O3 determined by the standard method of SRPS B.G8.512 and XRF method was 0.254 with the deviation of 0.191.