Thermal and spectroscopic investigation of europium and samarium sulphates hydrates by TG-FTIR and ICP-MS techniques

Abstract

The investigation of europium(III) sulphate hydrate and samarium(III) sulphate hydrate was performed by thermal analysis (TG-DTG) and simultaneous infrared evolved gas analysis-Fourier transformed infrared (EGA-FTIR) spectroscopy. The TG, DTG and DTA curves were recorded at the 25–1400 °C in the dynamic air atmosphere by TG/DTA analyser. The infrared evolved gas analysis was obtained on the FTIR spectrometer. Eu 2(SO 4) 3· nH 2O ( n = 3.97) and Sm 2(SO 4) 3· nH 2O ( n = 8.11) were analysed, the dehydration and decomposition steps were investigated and the water content was calculated. The formation of different oxysulphates was studied. The trace rare earth elements in Eu and Sm sulphates were determined by ICP-MS. The concentration of trace Eu, Sm, La, Gd, Y and Ce ranged from 3.9 × 10 −6 to 1.5 × 10 −4% (m/m).