Quantitative analysis of solid mixtures by diffuse reflectance measurements

Abstract

The factors affecting the reflectance of an absorbing substance mixed with material not absorbing at the wavelength of measurement were investigated and it was found that the effect of particle size could be eliminated by prolonged grinding. It is shown that the percentage by weight of the absorbing substance is directly proportional to the quantity (A/R) 1.383 (R = percentage reflectance ; A = 100 — R) and that this quantity is additive for 2 absorbing substances. A method is developed for the accurate determination of low concentrations of one and two absorbing substances mixed with non-absorbing material. The method is applicable to poorly crystallized substances which give no characteristic X-ray powder diffraction patterns as well as to crystalline solids. The reflectance of some substances is shown to be dependent on the previous history of the particular sample. The method is not applicable if there is physical interaction between the components of the mixture.