Method of determination of alkaline earth metal ions in concentrated alkali metal chloride brines

Abstract

A method for determining low level concentrations of alkaline earth metals in a concentrated aqueous alkali metal chloride brine containing alkaline earth metal ions comprises heating a sample of the brine to a temperature sufficient to remove water and form anhydrous alkali metal chloride. The anhydrous alkali metal chloride is then further heated to a temperature range in which the alkali metal chloride undergoes a change. The anhydrous alkali metal chloride is then vaporized and the alkaline earth metals atomized and passed through an analyzer where the concentration of alkaline earth metals are determined. Using the method of the present invention, alkaline earth metals such as calcium can be detected in concentrations as low as 1 part per billion, while magnesium can be detected in concentrations as low as 0.4 parts per billion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.