X-Ray Energy Analysis of Particulate Matter on Filter Paper

1972 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 134-145
Author(s):  
Warren G. Wood ◽  
James M. Mathiesen ◽  
John S. Mgebroff

AbstractThe rapid, quantitative and qualitative analysis of particulates on air filter samples is becoming increasingly important as more air pollution sampling stations are set up throughout the countiy. Although atomic absorption provides a sensitive technique for the analysis of many elements, the disadvantages of complex sample preparation, sample destruction and the necessity to analyze one element at a time make this technique unsuitable for a large volume of samples. X-ray energy spectroscopy when combined with automated sample handling and the latest dedicated data reduction systems provides a technique which enables the analyst to process large numbers of samples and obtain precise quantitative and qualitative data rapidly. This paper will describe the preparation and analysis of typical air filter type samples, and the steps taken to identify the elements in the samples and obtain computerized reduction of the data in μg/cm2, ppm or percent.

1975 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ratyński ◽  
J. Parus ◽  
J. Tys ◽  
A. Ciszek

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is new becoming a tool in research and. industry. Semiconductor detectors are proving valuable in measuring fluorescent X rays, and so are providing a versatile tool for rapid multielement analysis of many types of samples. This paper will mainly be concerned with, different types of copper ore. An experimental setup has been designed to determine Cu, Fe and Pb of concentration ranging from 0.1 to 20, to 5, and to 4 percent, respectively, with analytical precision of 20% relative at 0.1% Cu, and 3% relative at 20% Cu. For excitation a 100 mCi Pu-238 source and/or a low power air-cooled X-ray tube were used. Data acquisition and “on-line” evaluation for each sample takes about 100 seconds. Electronics blocks and sub-systems used In the set-up are available commercially. The most important benefit to be obtained from the setup is the ability to provide precise, reproducible determinations of large numbers of samples day after day.


Author(s):  
R. Beeuwkes ◽  
A. Saubermann ◽  
P. Echlin ◽  
S. Churchill

Fifteen years ago, Hall described clearly the advantages of the thin section approach to biological x-ray microanalysis, and described clearly the ratio method for quantitive analysis in such preparations. In this now classic paper, he also made it clear that the ideal method of sample preparation would involve only freezing and sectioning at low temperature. Subsequently, Hall and his coworkers, as well as others, have applied themselves to the task of direct x-ray microanalysis of frozen sections. To achieve this goal, different methodological approachs have been developed as different groups sought solutions to a common group of technical problems. This report describes some of these problems and indicates the specific approaches and procedures developed by our group in order to overcome them. We acknowledge that the techniques evolved by our group are quite different from earlier approaches to cryomicrotomy and sample handling, hence the title of our paper. However, such departures from tradition have been based upon our attempt to apply basic physical principles to the processes involved. We feel we have demonstrated that such a break with tradition has valuable consequences.


Author(s):  
T. Gulik-Krzywicki ◽  
M.J. Costello

Freeze-etching electron microscopy is currently one of the best methods for studying molecular organization of biological materials. Its application, however, is still limited by our imprecise knowledge about the perturbations of the original organization which may occur during quenching and fracturing of the samples and during the replication of fractured surfaces. Although it is well known that the preservation of the molecular organization of biological materials is critically dependent on the rate of freezing of the samples, little information is presently available concerning the nature and the extent of freezing-rate dependent perturbations of the original organizations. In order to obtain this information, we have developed a method based on the comparison of x-ray diffraction patterns of samples before and after freezing, prior to fracturing and replication.Our experimental set-up is shown in Fig. 1. The sample to be quenched is placed on its holder which is then mounted on a small metal holder (O) fixed on a glass capillary (p), whose position is controlled by a micromanipulator.


Author(s):  
J.M. Titchmarsh

The advances in recent years in the microanalytical capabilities of conventional TEM's fitted with probe forming lenses allow much more detailed investigations to be made of the microstructures of complex alloys, such as ferritic steels, than have been possible previously. In particular, the identification of individual precipitate particles with dimensions of a few tens of nanometers in alloys containing high densities of several chemically and crystallographically different precipitate types is feasible. The aim of the investigation described in this paper was to establish a method which allowed individual particle identification to be made in a few seconds so that large numbers of particles could be examined in a few hours.A Philips EM400 microscope, fitted with the scanning transmission (STEM) objective lens pole-pieces and an EDAX energy dispersive X-ray analyser, was used at 120 kV with a thermal W hairpin filament. The precipitates examined were extracted using a standard C replica technique from specimens of a 2¼Cr-lMo ferritic steel in a quenched and tempered condition.


Author(s):  
V. Serin ◽  
K. Hssein ◽  
G. Zanchi ◽  
J. Sévely

The present developments of electron energy analysis in the microscopes by E.E.L.S. allow an accurate recording of the spectra and of their different complex structures associated with the inner shell electron excitation by the incident electrons (1). Among these structures, the Extended Energy Loss Fine Structures (EXELFS) are of particular interest. They are equivalent to the well known EXAFS oscillations in X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Due to the EELS characteristic, the Fourier analysis of EXELFS oscillations appears as a promising technique for the characterization of composite materials, the major constituents of which are low Z elements. Using EXELFS, we have developed a microstructural study of carbon fibers. This analysis concerns the carbon K edge, which appears in the spectra at 285 eV. The purpose of the paper is to compare the local short range order, determined by this way in the case of Courtauld HTS and P100 ex-polyacrylonitrile carbon fibers, which are high tensile strength (HTS) and high modulus (HM) fibers respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1446
Author(s):  
Jacopo Orsilli ◽  
Anna Galli ◽  
Letizia Bonizzoni ◽  
Michele Caccia

Among the possible variants of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), applications exploiting scanning Macro-XRF (MA-XRF) are lately widespread as they allow the visualization of the element distribution maintaining a non-destructive approach. The surface is scanned with a focused or collimated X-ray beam of millimeters or less: analyzing the emitted fluorescence radiation, also elements present below the surface contribute to the elemental distribution image obtained, due to the penetrative nature of X-rays. The importance of this method in the investigation of historical paintings is so obvious—as the elemental distribution obtained can reveal hidden sub-surface layers, including changes made by the artist, or restorations, without any damage to the object—that recently specific international conferences have been held. The present paper summarizes the advantages and limitations of using MA-XRF considering it as an imaging technique, in synergy with other hyperspectral methods, or combining it with spot investigations. The most recent applications in the cultural Heritage field are taken into account, demonstrating how obtained 2D-XRF maps can be of great help in the diagnostic applied on Cultural Heritage materials. Moreover, a pioneering analysis protocol based on the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm is presented, unifying the MA-XRF standard approach with punctual XRF, exploiting information from the mapped area as a database to extend the comprehension to data outside the scanned region, and working independently from the acquisition set-up. Experimental application on some reference pigment layers and a painting by Giotto are presented as validation of the proposed method.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amara Khan ◽  
Andrea Markus ◽  
Thomas Rittmann ◽  
Jonas Albers ◽  
Frauke Alves ◽  
...  

AbstractX-ray based lung function (XLF) as a planar method uses dramatically less X-ray dose than computed tomography (CT) but so far lacked the ability to relate its parameters to pulmonary air volume. The purpose of this study was to calibrate the functional constituents of XLF that are biomedically decipherable and directly comparable to that of micro-CT and whole-body plethysmography (WBP). Here, we developed a unique set-up for simultaneous assessment of lung function and volume using XLF, micro-CT and WBP on healthy mice. Our results reveal a strong correlation of lung volumes obtained from radiographic XLF and micro-CT and demonstrate that XLF is superior to WBP in sensitivity and precision to assess lung volumes. Importantly, XLF measurement uses only a fraction of the radiation dose and acquisition time required for CT. Therefore, the redefined XLF approach is a promising tool for preclinical longitudinal studies with a substantial potential of clinical translation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo Men ◽  
Jian-Rong Dai ◽  
Ming-Hui Li ◽  
Xin-Yuan Chen ◽  
Ke Zhang ◽  
...  

Purpose. To develop a dual energy imaging method to improve the accuracy of electron density measurement with a cone-beam CT (CBCT) device.Materials and Methods. The imaging system is the XVI CBCT system on Elekta Synergy linac. Projection data were acquired with the high and low energy X-ray, respectively, to set up a basis material decomposition model. Virtual phantom simulation and phantoms experiments were carried out for quantitative evaluation of the method. Phantoms were also scanned twice with the high and low energy X-ray, respectively. The data were decomposed into projections of the two basis material coefficients according to the model set up earlier. The two sets of decomposed projections were used to reconstruct CBCT images of the basis material coefficients. Then, the images of electron densities were calculated with these CBCT images.Results. The difference between the calculated and theoretical values was within 2% and the correlation coefficient of them was about 1.0. The dual energy imaging method obtained more accurate electron density values and reduced the beam hardening artifacts obviously.Conclusion. A novel dual energy CBCT imaging method to calculate the electron densities was developed. It can acquire more accurate values and provide a platform potentially for dose calculation.


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