Purification of Hf in silicate materials using extraction chromatographic resin, and its application to precise determination of Hf-176/Hf-177 by MC-ICP-MS with Hf-179 spike

A two-stage column purification method for Hf from Zr and other elements in silicate samples using the extraction chromatographic resin, UTEVA has been developed. In the first column, using an anion-exchange resin, AG 1X8, Hf, Zr and Ti were collected. In the second, using UTEVA, and after eliminating F- by evaporation with HClO4 and re-dissolution with H2O2 HNO3, Hf was purified from Ti and Zr, based on characteristic of the UTEVA resin that Hf distribution coefficient (K-d) decreases from 770 to 40, while Kd of Zr decreases less from 890 to 200, in 9 and 6 mol l(-1) HNO3, respectively. The recovery yield of Hf was B88% and total blank was similar to 4 pg. A MC-ICP-MS Hf isotope ratio determination method was also developed, which uses 179 Hf spike for simultaneous determination of the Hf concentration and Hf-176/Hf-177 ratio. Combining the chemistry and ICP-MS techniques, Hf-176/Hf-177 ratios in silicate reference materials were determined with and without the spike, which gave identical results, showing the applicability of this method.