The increasing demand for high-quality lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is driving the need for pure lithium salts, such as lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). The extraction process often involves lithium chloride (LiCl), which must be free from contaminants to ensure the performance of the final battery product. This study explores the use of Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for the fast and simultaneous measurement of trace elements in lithium salts. The Agilent 5800 Vertical Dual View (VDV) ICP-OES, paired with the Agilent Advanced Dilution System (ADS 2), automates the calibration and dilution steps, enhancing sample turnaround time and minimizing human error.

The fully integrated ADS 2 and 5800 VDV ICP-OES system offers features such as autocalibration, prescriptive dilution, and reactive dilutions, which streamline the analytical process. The study demonstrates the effectiveness in determining 28 elements in technical grade LiCl, including aluminum, arsenic, boron, and others. The instrumentation setup ensures robust and stable plasma conditions for accurate measurements.

The automated system reduces the labor-intensive nature of sample preparation and calibration, making it ideal for laboratories handling high sample volumes. The integration of advanced autodilution technology in ICP-OES analysis represents a significant advancement in the efficient and accurate determination of trace elements in lithium salts, supporting the production of high-quality LIBs.