Summary for zinc ash content Discussion
Zinc ash content is the thread’s focus, with Paul Kelly asking how to verify whether imported zinc ash really meets a claimed 70% zinc content, since customers may understate quality and deduct money. Terry Tomt replies that the practical options are to dissolve the sample and test it by ICP, or build a calibration and analyze the powder by XRF, noting both should work if zinc is not at trace levels. Years later, Asif Naeem asks how to measure zinc content without spectrometry or other instrumentation. The final reply gives a simple wet-chemistry approach: dissolve the sample in HCl/HNO3, bring it to neutrality with aqueous NH3, and titrate to the Erie T endpoint with 0.1 M EDTA. The discussion therefore offers both instrumental and classical titration routes, depending on available equipment.
Q. Dear Sir,
I work for a company which sadly deals in supplying zinc ash to it’s customers; sadly because this company does not know even how to test zinc ash content on it’s own. I am a commercial person who has been given this portfolio and I would like to request you all if someone can let me know how to check the zinc ash content. The product we import from Egypt supposedly has minimum 70% content but at times I think customers play around and state that it is less than 70% content and then deduct some money! Because they know we cannot challenge or test it on our own.
It’s a dirty business.
To be able to curtail this practice, I want to know how can I test the zinc ash content and know what percent is it?
Would highly appreciate if someone can help me with it.
Many thanks,
Regards,
Paul Kelly
Sales – Karachi, Pakistan
October 24, 2009
A. I would either:
1) Dissolve and test by ICP
2) Make a calibration and analyze the powder by XRF
Both should work if the Zn content is not trace level.
Terry Tomt
– Auburn, Washington, USA
December 2, 2009
Q. How can the Zinc content of zinc ash be measured if spectrometry or other instrumentations are unavailable?
Asif Naeem
– Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
November 1, 2017
Dissolve in HCl/HNO3. Bring to neutrality with NH3 (aq).
Titrate to Erie T endpoint with 0.1 M EDTA.
Come now, this is chem 101.
Dave Wichern
Consultant – The Bronx, New York
November 4, 2017