FPT: An Integrated Fundamental Parameters Program for Broadband EDXRF Analysis without a Set of Similar Standards

Abstract

The x-ray fluorescence (XRF) method is well known for its capability to perform fast and accurate quantitative analysis for all elements with atomic numbers greater than ten. Energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) adds to this capability the benefit of quick qualitative analysis, due to its simultaneous sensitivity to all the elements. The method has the potential for rapid and complete chemical analysis of any sample which arrives on the analytical chemist's doorstep. Although the method has been a productive tool for fast and accurate repetitive analysis of similar samples, its applicability to unique unknowns has been rather limited. The limitation arises from the usual need to calibrate the instrument's response with a set of 6 to 12 standards, whose compositions must be similar to the unknown sample. Anyone who has struggled to develop and maintain such a suite of accurately certified standards knows that a great deal of effort and expense is involved. This effort is well justified when the analyst expects to analyze the same type of material frequently over an extended tine period. However, for a unique sample analysis, the task of developing a suite of similar standards simply makes the analysis impractical. What is needed is a method that requires minimal standards, or uses no standards at all.

Elemental analysis of polymetallic nodules from the Central Indian Basin: a study using EDXRF

“…Each spectrum was analysed for photopeak areas using the computer program AXIL.11 Before analysing these spectra for photopeak areas, the relevant background spectra for a pure cellulose sample was subtracted channel-wise from each spectrum. The fundamental parameter approach, as described by Gedcke et al 6 and modiÐed by Kumar et al,9 was used to calculate the concentrations of various elements based on the equation…”

X-ray fluorescence in the assessment of inter-elemental interactions in rat liver following lead treatment

“…In practice, the requirement of calibration standards is one of the greatest problems which the analyst is likely to encounter. An alternative method which overcomes this difficulty is the 'fundamental parameter approach' (Gedcke et al 1982). This method uses certain equations relating the measured X-ray counting rate for the given element to the elemental concentration.…”

X-ray spectrometry

“…The author has proposed a relation which describes the photoelectric cross section as a function of the photon energy and the atomic number to within about 2%, in the ranges 2 < Z < 86 and 5 <E< 100 keV. A few authors (129-132) have developed new fundamental parameters procedures (129,132) or have compared existing fundamental parameters programs (130,131). Myklebust et al (129) have described a fundamental procedure (EXF NBS and NBSROI programs) for processing EDXRS data obtained with monochromatic excitation.…”

“…Gedcke et al (131) have developed an integrated fundamental parameters program for EDXRS analysis. The versatility of the new program consists in the possibility of quantitative analysis without standards or with dissimilar or similar standards.…”

“…Under static air condition, staple cotton showed an exothermic thermooxidative transition with a maximum at 341 °C followed by an endothermic peak at 360 °C (74). The oxidative pyrolysis of wood, occurring in a two-step reaction at temperature <300 °C, was studied by TG (131). Results were analyzed by using the basic physical equation in a computer simulation.…”