DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ELEMENTS IN PARTICULATE MATTER BY MEANS OF ED-XRF

S. Iacobellis, A. Giove

Abstract

Among the analytical techniques of particular importance for the determination of the content of elements in samples of atmospheric particulates deposited on membranes there is energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF). This method combines the advantages of being rapid, non-destructive, multi-elemental, adequately sensitive and quantitative. The use of polarized radiation allows minimizing the background signal and, consequently, improves the detection limits. The elements determinable through ED-XRF are characterized by atomic number greater than 10. Those on which the interest is focused are: Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, V, W, Zn, Zr. In practice, in the current state not all of these elements are determinable with sufficient reliability: for Ag, Ba, Na, P and Sb it was not possible to obtain adequate analysis conditions and the related analytical results cannot be used. Instrumental parameters have been set, and the filter and film support was selected in order to minimize the interferences. The uncertainty of measurement of EDXRF analysis was estimated and also the evaluation of Limit of Detection and accuracy of the method was carried out.

Keywords

ED-XRF, particulate matter, uncertainty, LOD

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IMEKO TC

TC19 - Environmental Measurements

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