Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Ore, SU-1b

APPLICATION NOTE

SUMMARY

The application note summarizes the digestion of SU-1b, a nickel-copper-cobalt ore from Ontario, Canada, using ColdBlock™ Digestion Pro Series Technology.

Instrument:	ColdBlock CBM Pro Series, chiller, ICP-OES
Published:	June 2025
Digestion Time:	35 Minutes
Acid Used:	HNO₃, HCl, HF & H₃BO₃
Average ColdBlock Recovery vs. CRM:	98% cobalt 101% copper 100% nickel

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METHODOLOGY

1. Set the chiller temperature to -5°C.
2. Weigh 0.25 g of each sample and transfer into a ColdBlock™ Digestion vessel.
3. Add 20 mL of reverse aqua regia (add HNO3 first, followed by HCl) and 3 mL of HF to each vessel.
4. Digest samples at 80% power for 20 minutes.
5. Add 20 mL of 4% boric acid (w/v) to each sample.
6. Digest samples again at 80% power for 10 minutes.
7. Add 5 mL of HCl.
8. Digest at 100% power for 5 minutes.
9. Cool the samples and adjust the volume to 50 mL with DI water.

DISCUSSION

The addition of boric acid aids in the re-solubilization of insoluble fluorides and neutralizes residual hydrofluoric acid (HF). This step is crucial for sample dissolution and minimizing analyte loss during digestion
Following the digestion process, the samples were yellow and visibly clear, indicating that the majority sample matrix had A trace amount of sample material settled on the bottom of the tube overnight.

SU-1b is a nickel-copper-cobalt ore from Copper Cliff, Ontario, Canada.
Natural Resources Canada. (2009). Certificate of Analysis: SU-1b Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Ore. Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project, CanMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved from https://natural-resources.canada.ca/

Results

Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Ore, SU-1b
Method:	0.25g – Add 20mL reverse aqua regia + 3mL HF and digest at 80% power for 20 minutes. Add 20mL of 4% boric acid w/v and digest again at 80% power for 10 minutes. Add 5mL HCl, and digest again for 5 minutes. Let cool, and adjust the volume to 50mL with DI water.
Element	Certified Values	ColdBlock Average	ColdBlock +/–	ColdBlock RSD	ColdBlock Recovery vs Certified Value
Ag (ppm)	6.39	6.48	0.59	9.1%	101%
Al (%)	4.30	4.14	0.05	1.3%	96%
As (ppm)	2.49	2.50	0.27	10.6%	102%
Ca (%)	2.21	2.21	0.03	1.2%	100%
Co (%)	0.0672	0.0659	0.0002	0.3%	98%
Cu (%)	1.185	1.131	0.01	1.0%	101%
Fe (%)	25.54	25.49	0.35	1.4%	100%
Mg (%)	1.790	1.777	0.03	1.5%	99%
Mn (%)	0.0703	0.0719	0.0001	1.4%	102%
Ni (%)	1.953	1.962	0.03	1.5%	100%
Pb (ppm)	58	63	6.26	10	108%
S (%)	14.14	14.42	0.22	1.5%	102%
Zn (ppm)	235	232	4.04	1.7%	99%

Click here to download the Application Note in PDF format.

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APPLICATION NOTE