Determination of Zirconium, Hafnium, Magnesium, Iron and Titanium in Zirconium Ores by Sodium Peroxide Fusion-Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

Objective To address the challenges of difficult digestion and significant matrix interference associated with conventional alkali fusion methods for zirconium ores, an efficient and simultaneous analytical method was developed to support multi-element accurate determination for resource evaluation. Method A sodium peroxide alkali fusion method was employed to ensure complete decomposition of refractory zirconium minerals while minimizing matrix interference risks inherent to traditional approaches. The resultant solutions were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Through systematic optimization of measurement parameters, optimal analytical conditions were established for the determination of zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and titanium (Ti). Results The results demonstrated that sodium peroxide fusion achieved complete decomposition of zirconium ores. At the optimized conditions, each analyte exhibited excellent linearity, and the method detection limits met the requirements for geological sample analysis. Analysis of real ore samples yielded relative standard deviations within acceptable ranges and spike recoveries between 95.50% and 104.90%, indicating satisfactory precision and accuracy. Conclusion The established sodium peroxide alkali fusion–ICP-OES method enables the rapid and simultaneous determination of Zr, Hf, Mg, Fe, and Ti in zirconium ores with high analytical efficiency. It is well-suited for batch analysis of zirconium ores and analogous refractory geological materials, thereby providing robust technical support for comprehensive mineral resource assessment.