Application of an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer to Air Pollution Studies

Abstract

A secondary target Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer with three axial geometry has been used in multielement analysis of aerosols. A new type of monitoring system has been designed to monitor the flow of secondary photons and thus minimize the influence of time variation in the X-ray intensity. The aerosols were divided in two size fractions by means of a virtual impactor and deposited on filters. The absolute concentrations of the different elements were obtained by use of standard samples with known element concentrations. Detection limits for sixteen elements are given and are in the order of ng per cm2. The method has been applied to aerosols of widely varying composition and concentration in ambient atmosphere and industrial environment.