Quantitative Trace Element Analysis of Individual Fly Ash Particles by Means of X-ray Microfluorescence

Abstract

A new quantification procedure was developed for the evaluation of X-ray microfluorescence (XRF) data sets obtained from individual particles, based on iterative Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Combined with the high sensitivity of synchrotron radiation-induced XRF spectroscopy, the method was used to obtain quantitative information down to trace-level concentrations from micrometer-sized particulate matter. The detailed XRF simulation model was validated by comparison of calculated and experimental XRF spectra obtained for glass microsphere standards, resulting in uncertainties in the range of 3-10% for the calculated elemental sensitivities. The simulation model was applied for the quantitative analysis of X-ray tube and synchrotron radiation-induced scanning micro-XRF spectra of individual coal and wood fly ash particles originating from different Hungarian power plants. By measuring the same particles by both methods the major, minor, and trace element compositions of the particles were determined. The uncertainty of the MC based quantitative analysis scheme is estimated to be in the range of 5-30%.

Determination of Zn distribution and speciation in basic oxygen furnace sludge by synchrotron radiation induced μ‐XRF and μ‐XANES microspectroscopy

“…One is about the correction of self-absorption. As pointed out by previous researches, [5][6][7]15] the influence induced by self-absorption may cause significant impact on the distribution patterns. However, information about the matrix composition, thickness, density, and heterogeneity of each pixel of the particle is essential to do the self-absorption correction.…”

“…[ [6][7][8] The primary purpose was to obtain the spatial distribution and the chemical forms of zinc in the cross section of BOF OG, which might be useful for creating better recycling strategy.…”

Zn distribution and speciation in zinc-containing steelmaking wastes by synchrotron radiation induced μ-XRF and μ-XANES spectroscopy

“…The reason why these two techniques are used is that, in previous studies, the power of the combination of synchrotron radiation induced μ-XRF and μ-XANES spectroscopy as micro-analytical tools to investigate the spatial distribution and speciation of heavy metals in small regions of typically a few micrometers in size was demonstrated. [3,4,5] Thus in the present research, elemental maps are created by scanning the particle in a regular grid pattern by the X-ray micro-beam and detecting the induced fluorescence intensities at each position. Depending on these patterns of distribution, μ-XANES spectroscopy were used to determine directly the chemical forms of zinc in micro-sized areas where zinc in high or low content.…”

Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence analysis in environmental and earth sciences

“…In addition to bulk analytical applications there are numerous possibilities for single particle characterization [31]. We will just mention one example that illustrates the state-of-the-art that concerns the analysis of radioactive particles.…”