A method to leach manganese and some other metal cations from pulp matrix to aqueous phase for the subsequent ICP-AES analysis: a potential tool for controlling the metal profile in a pulp bleaching process

A simple and rapid, on-line compatible chelation pretreatment method to leach technically notable metals, especially manganese, from pulp matrix to aqueous phase for ICP-AES analysis has been developed. DTPMP was found to be the best chelating agent. Mn was leached almost quantitatively (>95%) and good recoveries were also obtained for Ba, Mg and Zn. Recoveries of Al and Fe were 15–40% and 40–60%, respectively—depending on the pulp type. Optimum contact time was 15 mins and optimum temperature 85 °C. For the 11 elements studied, the quantification limits range from 0.05mg/kg pulp (Mn) to 2.1 mg/kg pulp (Al). The repeatability and reproducibility range from 0.3% (Ca, Mn) to 11% (Cu) and from 1.7% (Mg) to 15% (Cu), respectively. The ruggedness of the method against different pulp matrices was good.