Nondestructive rare earth element imaging of fish teeth from deep-sea sediments

Abstract

X-ray fluorescence computed tomography is an emerging imaging modality that allows for the nondestructive reconstruction of the internal distribution of elements within a sample. The common use of X-ray excitation energy (up to approximately 20 keV) has necessitated the use of L-shell fluorescence for heavy elements. In this study, based on high energy X-ray at BL13W1 of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, we employed high-energy excitation for tomographic imaging of the heavy metals (rare earth elements) in fish teeth from deep-sea sediments on the micrometer scale using K-shell X-ray fluorescence. The virtual crosssectional distribution of La, Ce, Pm, Pr, Nd, and Sm were obtained, thereby providing a feasible approach for analyzing the enrichment mechanism of rare earth elements.

2016 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its applications

“…The common use of X-ray excitation energies (up to approximately 20 keV) has necessitated the use of L-shell XRF for higher Z elements. In a study, 254 based on high energy X-rays at BL13W1 of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, the authors employed high-energy excitation for tomographic imaging of the REEs in sh teeth from deep-sea sediments on the mm scale using K-shell X-ray uorescence.…”

Benchtop X-ray Fluorescence Microtomography Based Polycapillary

“…As a unique methodology in the investigation of element distribution, the X-ray fluorescence microtomography (µXFCT) based on synchrotron radiation, has been applied to numerous fields. To meet user's requirements, a SR-µXFCT system has been designed and constructed at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation facility (SSRF) [1][2][3]. However, the applications of µXFCT, which takes an enormous amount of acquisition time to acquire a 3D tomographic image, is limited by the complex and huge experimental facilities.…”