Recent advances in analysis of trace elements in environmental samples by X-ray based techniques (IUPAC Technical Report)

Abstract

Trace elements analysis is a fundamental challenge in environmental sciences. Scientists measure trace elements in environmental media in order to assess the quality and safety of ecosystems and to quantify the burden of anthropogenic pollution. Among the available analytical techniques, X-ray based methods are particularly powerful, as they can quantify trace elements in situ. Chemical extraction is not required, as is the case for many other analytical techniques. In the last few years, the potential for X-ray techniques to be applied in the environmental sciences has dramatically increased due to developments in laboratory instruments and synchrotron radiation facilities with improved sensitivity and spatial resolution. In this report, we summarize the principles of the X-ray based analytical techniques most frequently employed to study trace elements in environmental samples. We report on the most recent developments in laboratory and synchrotron techniques, as well as advances in instrumentation, with a special attention on X-ray sources, detectors, and optics. Lastly, we inform readers on recent applications of X-ray based analysis to different environmental matrices, such as soil, sediments, waters, wastes, living organisms, geological samples, and atmospheric particulate, and we report examples of sample preparation.

2020 atomic spectrometry update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its special applications

“…In an overview of recent advances in trace element analysis of environmental samples by X-ray based techniques , Terzano et al 29 summarised the principles of the main synchrotron-based analytical techniques employed to study trace elements in environmental samples. These techniques included XRF microscopy, spatially resolved XAS, XRF tomography and confocal detection.…”

Trace-element XAFS sensitivity: a stress test for a new XRF multi-detector

“…Therefore, chemical speciation is key information to understand environmental risks to human health and ecosystems, and can help in the design of remedial actions to prevent the dispersion of pollutants (Scheckel & Ford, 2010). In paleoenvironmental science, the variability of trace elements in rocks is a useful proxy for insights into geological events such as regional dispersion of 3d metals over paleoceans and disruptive volcanic events (Kravtsova, 2020;Terzano et al, 2019). For this reason, the simultaneous assessment of chemical concentration and mineralogical speciation of trace elements, possibly carried out in unique analytical routines, is crucial to understand environmental processes.…”

Vocabulary of radioanalytical methods (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)

“…In addition to terms of analytical interest, terms from nuclear technology, nuclear physics and radioactivity measurements are included. The IUPAC Technical Report on the use of X-ray-based techniques for analysis of trace elements in environmental samples provided a useful overview [4] of techniques using high-energy photons. This Recommendation will furnish terms on radioanalytical chemistry for the new chapter 8 in the next edition of the Orange Book [5].…”