Mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) are frequently estimated over a range of wavelengths in x-ray spectrometry from the intensity of the Compton peak IC associated with a prominent tube line. The MAC μλ at wavelength λ is estimated from the MAC at the Compton wavelength λC with the approximations μλ α μC and μC α 1/IC. Systematic errors may introduce absorption edge bias (AEB) effects into the results, caused by sample components vith absorption edges between λc and λ. A procedure is described which eliminates AEB effects by measuring IC using emission radiation from a primary beam filter.

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