1987 Volume 36 Issue 3 Pages 199-203
A simple and rapid method is described for the determination of major and trace elements in rock and sediment samples by wavelength dispersive XRF. Sample measured were made from cellulose powder pressed into 4 cm diameter aluminium ring 0.4 t cm-2, and then 1 g of powdered sample (0.08 g cm-2) was placed on the disk and repressed at 1.6 t cm-2. X-ray measurements were performed for total XRF intensity (Ip) at the characteristic line of each element and background intensity (Ib) in vicinity of the line. The correction of matrix effect was achieved by X-ray intensity ratio of peak to background for each element. Eight standard rock samples from Geological Survey of Japan were used as standard materials, and linear calibration curves were obtained by the plot of Ip-Ib vs. concentration for Ca, Na and Pb and by the plot of Ip/Ib ratio vs. concentration for Si, Fe, Ti, K, P, Cl, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sr and Ba, respectively. The relative standard deviation was estimated to be about 3% for 15 elements and 67% for Ba and Pb in river and marine sediment samples. The proposed method was applied to the determination of 17 elements in Pond Sediment (NIES No. 2) and Estuarine Sediment (NBS SRM 1646), and the results were in good agreement with the recommended values.
