Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

X-ray fluorescence analysis of ACHEX aerosols

Journal Article · · Adv. Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6858611

The method of X-ray-induced X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRFA) used to determine the elemental compositions of aerosols collected on filter media and impactor films during the Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACHEX) is discussed. The method involves the interaction of photons provided by an X-ray tube either directly or indirectly, with specimen atoms. The technique is quantitative, relatively rapid (minutes), and highly sensitive (ng/cu m of air). With low-power X-ray tubes (less than 40 W) and semiconductor detector X-ray spectrometers employed in the experiment, the concentrations of 13 elements (Al, Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Br, Sr, and Pb) were routinely ascertained for aerosols collected over 2-hr periods.

Research Organization:
California, University, Berkeley, CA
OSTI ID:
6858611
Journal Information:
Adv. Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Adv. Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 9; ISSN AESTC
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English