OXDPPM: A Software to Convert Chemical Elements Between Oxides and Native Elements

Abstract

OXDPPM is a simple, but powerful, FORTRAN software program designed for conversion of concentrations of chemical elements. Specifically, it converts the concentrations of elements in any material from oxide percentages to pure native elements, and vice versa. Each chemical element has a conversion factor associated with each of its oxides. The software invokes two modes of operation : data input by mainstream files (F Mode) and data input by interactive dialogue with the computer screen (I Mode). Each of the two modes permits two opposing conversion directions, either converting element content from oxide percentage to parts per million of native elements (0 Mode), or converting the data from native element parts per million to oxide percentage (1 Mode). The program differentiates between 2-and 1-letter element symbols and converts accordingly. A native element converts to the most common oxide in multi - oxide elements. In the F Mode, users need only to supply the program with the name of an input file. Three output files are generated internally: a flat text file containing the results of element conversions, a second file containing the same results in a space-delimited and spreadsheet-compatible file ready for export to a spreadsheet like EXCEL, and a third file containing the element conversion factors. The I Mode produces three similar files. The OXDPPM software is a stand-alone program. With a proper linking, it may be inserted as a module in existing programs or as a dll routine in dynamic libraries. The program launches from the system command prompt or from the program icon on PCs and laptops operating under the WINDOWS environment.