Standard Practices for Extraction of Elements from Ores and Related Metallurgical Materials by Acid Digestion
Standard Practices for Extraction of Elements from Ores and Related Metallurgical Materials by Acid Digestion
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE 4.1 These practices are primarily intended to test materials for compliance with compositional specifications and for monitoring. Partial extraction of ores and related metallurgical materials can provide information on the availability of elements to leaching, water quality changes, or other site conditions. 4.2 It is assumed that the users of these practices will be trained analysts capable of performing common laboratory procedures skillfully and safely. It is expected that work will be performed in a properly equipped laboratory and that proper waste disposal procedures will be followed. Appropriate quality control practices such as those described in Guide E882 shall be followed. SCOPE 1.1 These practices cover the digestion of ores and related metallurgical materials, such as mine soil, waste rock and tailings, for subsequent determination of acid-extractable contents of certain elements by such solution analytical techniques as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) (see Test Method D1976), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (see Test Method D5673). 1.1.1 Contents of aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, scandium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, thallium, tin, titanium, vanadium and zinc can be extracted from ores and related metallurgical materials for determination by analytical methods for elements in solution. Other elements may be determined from extracts produced using this practice. 1.1.2 Actual element quantification in digested solutions can be accomplished by following the various test methods under other appropriate ASTM standards for element(s) of interest in solution. 1.1.3 The detection limit and linear content range for each element is dependent on the atomic absorption, mass spectrometry or emission spectrometric technique employed and may be found in the manual accompanying the instrument used or ASTM standard method for analysis of the solutions. Consider the dilution factor in content calculations due to digestion and dilution of solid samples. 1.1.4 The extent of extraction of elements from ores and related metallurgical materials by these practices is dependent upon the physical and mineralogical characteristics of the prepared sample and the digestion practice used. 1.2 The digestion practices appear in the following order: Sections Nitric Acid Microwave Digestion 7 to 14 Four-Acid Total Digestion 15 to 21 1.3 The values stated SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurements are included in this standard. 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Sections 11 and 20. 1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ASTM E2941-21: Standard Practices for Extraction of Elements from Ores and Related Metallurgical Materials by Acid Digestion sets forth standardized laboratory procedures for the acid digestion of ores, mine soils, waste rock, and tailings. The purpose is to prepare samples for the determination of acid-extractable elements using solution-based analytical techniques such as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
This standard is developed by ASTM International under Committee E01 and is primarily used to ensure compliance with compositional specifications and to support environmental and quality monitoring efforts. ASTM E2941-21 establishes requirements for laboratory safety, sample preparation, and acid digestion protocols, enabling consistent extraction and analysis of elements in mining and metallurgical processes.
ASTM E2941-21 provides practical value across multiple sectors:
Другие стандарты ASTM
The standard’s detailed methodologies help laboratories consistently generate extractable element data that are critical for operational, regulatory, and environmental decision-making.
ASTM E2941-21 references several other important standards and guides:
These related standards provide comprehensive guidelines for reagents, instrumentation, safety, and analytical protocols, supporting the effective implementation of ASTM E2941-21 in analytical laboratories.
By adhering to ASTM E2941-21, laboratories and industrial stakeholders benefit from standardized, reliable procedures for extracting and analyzing elements from ores and metallurgical materials, supporting both operational efficiency and regulatory compliance in the mining and metals sectors.