Loss on ignition

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Loss on ignition is a test used in inorganic analytical chemistry, particularly in the analysis
of minerals. It consists of strongly heating ("igniting") a sample of the material at a specified
temperature, allowing volatile substances to escape, until its mass ceases to change. This
may be done in air, or in some other reactive or inert atmosphere. The simple test typically
consists of placing a few grams of the material in a tared, pre-ignited crucible and
determining its mass, placing it in a temperature-controlled furnace for a set time, cooling it
in a controlled (e.g. water-free, CO2-free) atmosphere, and redetermining the mass. The
process may be repeated to show that mass-change is complete. A variant of the test in
which mass-change is continually monitored as temperature is changed,
is thermogravimetry.
The loss on ignition is reported as part of an elemental or oxide analysis of a mineral. The
volatile materials lost usually consist of "combined water" (hydrates and labile hydroxy-
compounds) and carbon dioxide from carbonates. It may be used as a quality test,
commonly carried out for minerals such as iron ore. For example, the loss on ignition of
a fly ash consists of contaminant unburnt fuel.
In pyroprocessing industries such as lime,
calcined bauxite, refractories or cement manufacture, the loss on ignition of the raw
material is roughly equivalent to the loss in mass that it will undergo in a kiln. Similarly for
minerals the loss on ignition represents the actual material lost during smelting or refining in
a furnace or smelter. The loss on ignition of the product indicates the extent to which the
pyroprocessing was incomplete. ASTM tests are defined for limestone and lime[1] and
cement[2] among others.

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ ASTM C 25 Standard test methods for chemical analysis of limestone,
quicklime and hydrated lime

2. Jump up^ ASTM C 114 Standard test methods for chemical analysis of hydraulic
cement