X‐ray fluorescence analysis of samples with elemental sulphur. Effect of sulphur sublimation

Abstract

Abstract The precautions to be taken during x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of samples containing elemental sulphur were investigated. Elemental sulphur under vacuum (vacuum required for S Kα analysis) undergoes sublimation. As a result, the sulphur intensity signal diminishes in direct relation to the time during which the sample has been under vacuum. The work power accelerates the sublimation of sulphur. A method for obtaining real analytical values is proposed. The risk to the XRF spectrometer constituted due to sublimed sulphur are pointed out.