Research Progress of Alkali Fusion in the Detection of Inorganic Pollutants

Alkali fusion can efficiently decompose residue, coal, ore, particulate matters and other samples. In particular, alkali fusion is suitable for the determination of various metallic elements and specific non-metallic elements such as fluorine, silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur. Hence, the mechanism of alkali melting fusion was expounded and the impact factors of alkali melting method such as flux selection, crucible selection, melting temperature/time in addition with matrix effect were discussed. Further, the application and research progress of alkali melting method on the detection of major elements, fluorine, rare earth elements(REEs) and trans uranium elements in soil, sediments, solid wastes, atmospheric particles, slag, ore and coal were reviewed, and the prospects of alkali fusion in the field of environmental monitoring and mining were proposed.