Application of X-ray fluorescent analysis to measurement of water pollution by metals

The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of the radioisotope XRF method for analysis of water pollutants, air particulates and certain bioindicators. Sample preparation was limited to ion-exchange. For the lowest energy 55Fe source was used, for intermediate elements 238Pu or 109Cd and for higher atomic numbers 241Am. Proportional counter PXA Be type was used. Energy resolution of 16% for 6,4 Fe K-line corresponding to about 1000 eV. The advantages of a proportional counter are its low cost, simple electronic instrumentation, simple operation and applicability to field on-line measurements. Its application is, however, restricted to simple analysis of one or two elements in the sample. For multicomponent analysis a solid state detector must be used. XRF method is feasible for rapid and easy analysis of environmental material. It is competitive with atomic absorption or neutron activation. Sample preparation is much simpler than that for atomic absorption. The detection limit is not so good as that of two other methods but for majority of application is sufficient. The cost of analysis is between $2 and $10 per sample with no pretreatment or enrichment. The time of analysis is between 10 minutes and 3 hours depending on the type of samples