Elemental Analysis - Lanthanum (La)

A soft, silvery-white metal, lanthanum quickly darkens in air and burns easily when ignited. Lanthanum is added to the glass used in some camera lenses to increase the clarity of images.

Lanthanum metal has no commercial use. However, its alloys have a variety of uses. A lanthanum-nickel alloy is used to store hydrogen gas for use in hydrogen powered vehicles. Lanthanum is also found in the anode of nickel metal hydride batteries used in hybrid cars.

Lanthanum is a major component (about 20 percent) of the mischmetal alloy. The best known use for this alloy is as flint. Mischmetal is a rare earth alloy. Rare earth compounds containing lanthanum are commonly used in carbon lighting applications such as studio lighting and cinema projection. It increases the brightness and gives an emission spectrum similar to sunlight.

Lanthanum oxide is used to make special optical glass, as it increases the optical properties and alkali resistance of the glass. Lanthanum salts are used in catalysts for petroleum refining.

Both the element and its compounds of lanthanum, moderately toxic.

Lanthanum is found in rare earth minerals. Ion exchange and solvent extraction techniques are used to isolate rare earth elements from minerals. Lanthanum metal is generally obtained by reduction of anhydrous fluoride with calcium.

In the tests and analyzes carried out in our institution, which has a wide range of technological equipment, trained and experienced staff and applies the most modern methods, national and international standards and legal regulations in force are complied with. Among the numerous tests carried out in this context, there are also lanthanum (La) testing services within the framework of elemental analysis.