Pure Lithium Metaborate for Wet Chemistry

Lithium metaborate (LiBO2) is a chemical contact which is employed in borate fusion for x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis as well as in fusion flux mixtures for additional sample preparation techniques. Lithium metaborate is extremely reactive with acidic samples and has a high melting point meaning it is not volatile. This is why lithium metaborate is so well-suited to wet chemistry applications.

What is Lithium Metaborate Used For?

Lithium metaborate is often combined with lithium tetraborate to create fusion fluxes of a range of ratios which have varying pH levels and XRF sample preparation applications. A granular x-ray flux combination of 35.3% tetraborate with 64.7% lithium metaborate can be universally applied to alumino-silicates and works well in solid sample preparation materials.

Fusion flux mixtures of lithium metaborate with lithium tetraborate at a ratio of 50:50 and 66:34 for general sample preparation of a number of pH neutral samples such as alumina. The necessary chemical composition of the lithium metaborate flux will alter with the various physical structures and compound mixtures which are being analyzed.

Lithium metaborate is usually used to prepare samples in the form of fused beads or discs from XRF analysis. This is because XRF analysis is meant to remove mineralogical structures in a sample so that it can be represented free from matrix effects. If a sample is not prepared correctly, results can be poor and inaccurate when the sample is studied with a spectrometer.

Borate Fusion

Lithium metaborate is often used in borate fusion. This is a method of sample preparation which is widely used that involves an oxidized sample being dissolved in molten flux temperatures in the region of 1050°C.

This technique is used when there is a larger amount of samples that need analysis via x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Borate fusion using lithium metaborate is fast and safe, avoiding the use of concentrated and hazardous acids in sample preparation whilst also shortening preparation time.

Lithium Metaborate from XRF Scientific

At XRF Scientific, we supply lithium metaborate 100% which can be used in both beaded and granular physical structures. Both of these structures have high levels of reactivity with acidic samples as well as a melting point of 845°C which is why it has such low volatility and low melting point.

We also offer fusion flux chemicals with are made up of lithium metaborate and lithium tetraborate in addition to a range of oxidizing additives for a large number of XRF sample preparation applications.

At XRF Scientific, we offer a broad range of fusion flux chemicals for use in sample preparation. If you would like to find out more about our lithium metaborate fluxes, contact us today.