Innovative fusion-based approach for uranium analysis in zircon mineral using Light Emitting Diode fluorimetry (LEDF)

This study introduces a novel approach for the determination of uranium (U) in zircon minerals, employing sodium polyphosphate fusion coupled with light-emitting diode (LED) fluorimetry. Sodium polyphosphate serves a dual role, facilitating the decomposition of zircon, which is otherwise challenging due to its high silica content, and acting as a fluorescence-enhancing reagent. The optimized procedure enables complete dissolution of the zircon sample, enhances analytical sensitivity, and effectively minimizes interferences without the use of conventional acid digestion and separation using solvent extraction. Method validation of the proposed technique was carried out through the analysis of certified reference materials and comparing the results obtained with conventional pellet fluorimetry. The proposed method demonstrates high accuracy, rapid analysis, and cost-effectiveness, making it well-suited for determination of uranium in zircon. The technique exhibits excellent precision, with relative standard deviation (RSD) values below 5%.