Preparation of contaminated soil samples for data assessment of XRF analysis

We determined intensities of Ba Kα, Pb Lβ, As Kβ, Zn Kα and Cu Kα of certified standards consisting of sediments and sedimentary rock powder (SS), igneous rock powders (IR) and sulfide ore powder (SO). Among these certified standards, SO was expected to be suitable for X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of contaminated soils containing high Pb, As, Zn and Cu. The ratios of X-ray intensities (I_{Ba Kα}, I _{Pb Lβ}, I_{As Kβ}, I_Zn, _Kα and I_{Cu Kα}) to their element concentrations (X-ray intensity/ concentration) for SS standards were higher than for IR and SO. The ratios of SO standards were significantly lower than those of SS and IR standards. Therefore, it was not possible to make calibration lines for Pb, As, Zn and Cu for XRF analysis using SS and SO standards and/or IR and SO standards. We prepared contaminated soil samples as data assessment standards for XRF analysis. These data assessment standards were soils contaminated by (1) fallout of dust from smokestacks, (2) waste liquid and incineration ash and (3) sulfide minerals around mineral ore deposits and geothermal areas. These standards covered the data assessment of XRF analysis for the ranges up to 1100 mg/kg for Pb, 620 mg/kg for As, 780 mg/kg for Zn and 730 mg/kg for Cu. (author)