Presentation Profile
How to utilize X-ray Fluorescence for accurate inorganic quantitative and semi-quantitative analysis for industrial applications
Currently Scheduled: 10/11/2023 - 10:50 AM - 11:40 AM
Room: Bluebonnet
Main Author
Poulami Dutta - Dow
Abstract:
X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) is an elemental analysis technique widely used across industries due to its fast and easy sample preparation and non-destructive multi-elemental analytical capability. It is widely used in industry for different quantitative and qualitative analysis needs including catalyst supports and promoters, additives and residual metals in polymers and contaminants in different matrices. Different categories of XRF instruments include high-end wavelength dispersive (WD) floor models to simple but rugged energy dispersive (ED) bench-top units. With recent advances in instrumentation and affordability, it is now possible to implement robust, accurate and precise EDXRF quantification methods in manufacturing laboratories that would traditionally require use of WD instruments available at a R&D lab only allowing on-site data acquisition for process control. It is also possible to use simple ED units to extract location-specific elemental distribution using benchtop Micro XRF (M-XRF) instruments that can produce X-ray spot sizes of 20-30 μm. This technique is highly desirable for analyzing small, inhomogeneous samples and inclusions and can provide chemical maps to determine elemental distribution of major and trace elements which cannot be achieved with bulk XRF analysis. Aside from instrumentation, sample preparation is critical for achieving high quality XRF spectral data and accurate quantification. In this presentation, multiple examples of solving challenging and critical industrial problems using a combination of ED, WD and M-XRF will be shared. This work will highlight importance of choosing the right sample preparation protocol to achieve homogeneous samples and present studies developed to quantify accurately and precisely a wide range of elements in a variety of matrices at trace levels. Additionally, cases where semi-quant analysis can be used to quantitate unknown samples accurately without preparing matrix-matched standards will also be presented.
