A new approach for sample preparation to determine the multi-element composition of cobalt-rich crust samples by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Rough surface of the pellet and the particle size effect limit better application of pressed pellet sample preparation to wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF) for determination of multi-element composition in cobalt-rich crust samples. This paper explored the technique for preparing ultrafine powder of cobalt-rich crust samples by wet grinding, and an ultrahigh-pressure system was used to prepare pellets for WDXRF. Ultrafine cobalt-rich crust samples having 99