Analytical investigation of dust, sludge and waste water specimens from the production facilities of a special glass manufacturer

Abstract

Waste materials obtained at the production of special glasses need to be investigated for their constituents quickly, precisely, and sufficiently sensitivly in order that they can be recycled as raw materials to the batch, or that appropriate disposal measures can be initiated. The solid specimens from the environment, such as dust and sludge, are decomposed using mineral acids or alkali melts, while the waste waters in most of the cases are decomposed by means of HNO3/H2O2. In the event of high concentrations the elements are determined by mensuration analysis, while in the case of low (< 100 mg/l) and trace (< 0.1 mg/l) concentrations, induced coupled plasma spectrometry, atomic spectrometry in absorption (flame, graphite tube, hydride, and cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry) and in emission, respectively, and solvent spectrophotometry are employed.