Applications

This Bulletin describes titrimetric methods for the determination of cadmium, free sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and total cyanide. The free cyanide can be calculated from the total cyanide and the Cd content.

The determination of the total causticizer, sodium carbonate and aluminum oxide contents in (Bayer) process liquors can be accomplished with high precision and speed by using the 859 Titrotherm in a thermometric acid-base titration. A complete titration takes approximately 5 minutes.The procedure is an automated adaptation of the traditional Watts-Utley method, and is similar to the VanDalen-Ward thermometric titration method, but with the added advantage that the analysis can also be performed for the carbonate content of the liquor.

This Application Note describes a method for the determination of causticizer, carbonate and aluminum oxide in used Bayer process liquors. The method is based on processes that were developed by Watts-Utley and VanDalen-Ward.

Determination of concentrated potassium hydroxide solutions which had been used for the etching of substrates containing silicon.

This Application Note describes the determination of the free and total hydroxide and aluminum oxide content in Bayer process and other aluminate liquors. The method is not subject to interference by carbonate ions. An aliquot of sodium aluminate liquor is titrated with potassium hydrogen carbonate solution to yield the free hydroxide ion content of the liquor.

The Kraft process is the dominant pulping process in the pulp and paper industry with the highest chemical recovery efficiency. In order to run each part of the papermaking process optimally, constant quality checks and analyses should be performed. This Process Application Note illustrates the straightforward online analysis of alkali (active, effective, total titratable alkali (TTA)), carbonate, hydroxide, sulfide and the causticizing degree (CE%) in pulping liquors using a 2060 Process Analyzer from Metrohm Process Analytics.

The chemicals used in the manufacture of semiconductors must exhibit an exceptional purity, because even traces of contaminants have a negative effect on electrical properties. For the manufacture of printed circuit boards, the light-sensitive photoresist applied to the substrate (wafer) is exposed to light at defined areas with the aid of a photo template and then developed in a chemical reaction. The developer contains 2.38 to 2.62% tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and ensures that the exposed areas can be readily separated from the substrate. The monitoring of the TMAH concentration in the developer solution takes place with a process analyzer from Metrohm Applikon that is configured specially for titration. In addition to this, the analyzer helps with the mixing of the TMAH solutions.

The Bayer Process is the method used to refine alumina from bauxite ore, as smelting aluminum directly from alumina is much more cost- and energy-effective. In this process, "aluminate liquors" are created by digesting the crushed bauxite with CaO and NaOH at high temperatures. Additionally, the CaO causticizes carbonate which forms in the alkaline solution from organic degradation and CO2 absorption from the atmosphere. Contaminations are removed at various steps in the process, and the liquor is filtered from the alumina crystals before it is recycled back to the digestion step. Before the spent liquor can be reused, a determination of the concentrations of the total hydroxyl (“caustic”), carbonate, and alumina values is required. These parameters can be determined quickly via thermometric titration with the 2035 Process Analyzer.

Determination of hydroxide and carbonate in alkaline plating baths by potentiometric titration with HCl using the combined glass electrode.

Determination of Na2O and SiO2 in water glass by potentiometric titration with HCl using the Sb electrode.