Analysis of aerosols using total reflection x-ray spectrometry
Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) was used to determine sulfur, chlorine, potassium, and calcium in atmospheric aerosol samples. Aerosols collected in a size fractionation cascade impact collector were dissolved in water, and the solution was placed on a quartz x-ray reflector plate. X-ray fluorescence spectra were acquired by using a prototype TXRF spectrometer. Cobalt was used as an internal standard added to the solution after dissolution of the aerosol. Detection limits as low as 325 pg for sulfur and 60 pg for calcium were obtained. Aerosol samples between 38 and 387 ..mu..g were used to prepare the specimens. Good agreement was obtained between sulfur calculated as sulfate obtained by TXRF and sulfate obtained by ion chromatographic determination. These results show that TXRF may hold significant potential as an analytical method for the determination of major and minor elements in aerosol samples by using no more than a few hundred micrograms of sample.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins
- OSTI ID:
- 6182929
- Journal Information:
- Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 59:15
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CALCIUM
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS
CHLORINE
POTASSIUM
SULFUR
DISSOLUTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
TRACE AMOUNTS
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
HALOGENS
INFORMATION
METALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
SOLS
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
400101* - Activation
Nuclear Reaction
Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)