Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence – A tool for interdisciplinary research

Abstract

Trace elements have been at the focus of attention for decades with considerable emphasis on their role in biology and biomedical sciences, environmental sciences, geology, archaeology and material sciences. They comprise a large number of elements, some having essential physiological functions, whereas others are toxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic. A few even have antiproliferative and anticarciniogenic properties. The advent of various instrumental techniques and sophisticated instrumentations has made their detection to very low limits possible, making this a very important multidisciplinary study. Among these techniques the energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique is being widely used for trace element detection in various fields of science. Keeping the importance of trace elements in mind, the Kolkata centre of UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research initiated several research schemes in different fields of trace element research using various techniques, EDXRF being one of the main techniques. A Xenemetrix (erstwhile Jordan Valley) EX 3600 EDXRF spectrometer is being used to carry out the research. This presentation aims to highlight some of the very recent applications of EDXRF in the study of the role of trace elements in pre-cancerous tissues, medicinal plants and also in some environmental studies.

Sargassum-Modified Asphalt: Effect of Particle Size on Its Physicochemical, Rheological, and Morphological Properties

“…[34][35][36]. This is consistent with the observations of Sharifi and Pirsa [37] who found that the complete degradation of pectin occurs in the temperature range of 180 to 450 • C.…”

“…Then, owing to the low decomposition temperature of hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin, a degradation temperature close to 262 • C is observed, which ends up with a significant drop around 324 • C, showing a residual mass corresponding to carbonous compounds[34][35][36]. This is consistent with the observations of Sharifi and Pirsa[37] who found that the complete degradation of pectin occurs in the temperature range of 180 to 450 • C.…”

Qualitative elemental analysis of selected potential anti-asthmatic medicinal plant taxa using EDXRF technique

“…The spectra were collected for a sufficiently long time so that good statistical accuracies can be achieved. The quantitative analysis is carried out using nEXT software (Sudarshan et al, 2011).…”

Extraction of High Purity Silica from Amazonian Sponges

“…X-ray fluorescence: Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) in solid state analyses were used to determine and compare the elemental composition of the sponge material, the silica purified from sponges, as well as commercial silica used for open column chromatography. This technique allows for fast multi-elemental analyses, detecting major and trace elements, and is used in a wide range of studies [27,28].…”