The use of x-ray fluorescence technique (XRF) in the determination of trace elements in environmental study: a case study for sediments and soils

A specific X-ray fluorescence technique (XRF) was developed to determine the concentrations of nine common and significant trace elements in sediments and soils, i.e. two of the common materials used in environmental studies. The elements are Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn. A total of 22 international reference materials of rocks, soils, minerals, ores and sediments were employed to construct nine calibration curves, all of which depict linear correlation of concentration-intensity, with correlation coefficients of 0.9 or better. The accuracy of determination is implied from the relative differences between the observed and suggested values in four reference materials: USGS SCO-1, shale; CCRMP SO-1, soil; CCRMP CO-2, soil; and SARM 42, soil. The determinations of four elements are considered as accurate, with relative errors of smaller than 10%; they are Fe (5%), Mn (6%), Cr (8%), and Cu (9%). Only a moderate accuracy has been achieved in the determinations of Ba (13%), Zn (18%) and V (21 %). Ni and Ph results are associated with larger errors. The developed technique is considered rapid, whereby nine elements in 30 samples in the form of pressed powder briquettes can be analysed in 8 hours. Without extrapolating the calibration curves, the method is suitable to analyse elements in soils and sediments in the following ranges of concentrations: Ba, 0-1500 ppm; Cr, 0-3000 ppm; Cu, 0-300 ppm; Fe, 0.7%; Mn, 0-1000 ppm; Ni, 0-300 ppm; Pb, 0-70 ppm; V, 0-300 ppm and Zn, 0-270 ppm