2003 Volume 52 Issue 2 Pages 81-93
PIXE (Particle Induced X-Ray Emission) analysis provides the rapid determination of major, minor and trace elements in very small amounts of solid samples. We examined, the minimum amount of samples required and the precision of PIXE analysis as well as its validity and limitation for river water samples.
Several elements in soluble materials from the reference river water samples were determined by PIXE analysis. Such elements as Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Cu, Se and Pb were obtained almost the same concentration as these certified values.
PIXE analysis for the suspended solids (SS) separated from the river water of several selected sites along the Hinuma River, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, showed, the presence of more than 10 elements in almost all samples.
The comparision between PIXE analysis and ICP-AES or ICP-MS analysis on the representative example of SS showed that the concentrations for Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe and Cu revealed the correlation among those analytical methods.
It suggests that PIXE analysis is quite promising method for the simultaneous determination of Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Br and Sr in a relatively short time by using the correction coefficients for self-absorption of X-ray without processing acid dissolution.
