A quantitative overview is given of the role that x-ray emission analysis methods, in their various forms, play in the literature for the period from January 1990 to the end of December 2000. The major sources of information were computerized searches through Chemical Abstracts and Web of Science and, specifically for 1998, a manual search through Analytical Abstracts. Areas that are covered in this review pertain to the recent trends in x-ray emission spectrometry in general and in some specific techniques such as x-ray fluorescence analysis, synchrotron radiation-induced and particle-induced x-ray emission, total-reflection and micro-x-ray fluorescence analysis. A brief outline of recent developments in the specific fields is given, with emphasis on the various excitation and detection modes, on different application areas and on relative contributions of different countries and languages to the x-ray emission spectrometry literature. It appears that environmental monitoring and research continue to be particularly important publication fields for x-ray spectrometry. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Individual particle analysis using micro-PIXE and proton backscattering was performed for selected aerosol samples collected over Siberia. Point analyses were complemented by x-ray mapping for complex particles. Hierarchical cluster analysis of 124 particles identified in general the same particle groups, as found by automated electron microprobe analyses of approximately 25000 particles from the same locations. However, owing to the superior sensitivity of micro-PIXE, a number of heavy metals were identified, suggesting an anthropogenic origin of particles. These metals remained undetected by EPXMA owing to its inferior sensitivity. Elemental mapping of single aerosol particles yielded important information on the chemical heterogeneities. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aerosol samples were collected using Berner-type cascade impactor and stacked filter units at Si6fok during four campaigns in 1999 and 2000. A total of 40 bulk samples were measured using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The concentrations of light elements in individual particles were calculated using a reverse Monte Carlo method developed at the University of Antwerp. The particles were further classified using hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses. Around 25,000 individual particles were analyzed by computer-controlled electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). In order to determine the possible sources of the aerosol particles, the combined data set of the bulk XRF and single-particle EPMA results was subjected to principal component analysis. The obtained analytical results were compared to the air mass backward trajectories, showing good correlation for the sampling periods. The composition of the aerosol did not show characteristic seasonal variation, it was more correlated to the origin of the incoming air mass.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVReviewX-ray SpectrometryImre Szalóki, Szabina B. Török, Chul-Un Ro, Jasna Injuk, and René E. Van GriekenView Author Information Institute of Experimental Physics, University of Debrecen, Bem tér 18/a, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary KFKI Institute of Atomic Energy, P.O. Box 49, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary Department of Chemistry, Hallym University, Chun Cheon, Kang WonDo, 200-702, Korea Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp (UIA), B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium Cite this: Anal. Chem. 2000, 72, 12, 211–234Publication Date (Web):May 19, 2000Publication History Published online19 May 2000Published inissue 1 June 2000https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/a1000018hhttps://doi.org/10.1021/a1000018hreview-articleACS PublicationsCopyright © 2000 American Chemical SocietyRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views790Altmetric-Citations16LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose SUBJECTS:Crystals,Elements,Energy,Materials,X-rays Get e-Alerts

X-Ray SpectrometryVolume 28, Issue 4 p. 301-301 Book Review X-ray spectroscopy and allied areas. Edited by S. K. Joshi, B. D. Shrivastava and A. P. Deshpande. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp. 302. ISBN 81-73/9-243-X J. Injuk, J. Injuk Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp (UIA), B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this authorR. Van Grieken, R. Van Grieken Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp (UIA), B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this author J. Injuk, J. Injuk Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp (UIA), B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this authorR. Van Grieken, R. Van Grieken Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp (UIA), B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumSearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 September 1999 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4539(199907/08)28:4<301::AID-XRS353>3.0.CO;2-MAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume28, Issue4Special Issue: Papers from the European Conference on EDXRS, Bologna, Italy, 7–12 June 1998July/August 1999Pages 301-301 RelatedInformation

The atmospheric input of up to 16 trace and other elements into the North Sea is further assessed from aerosol concentrations measured at a coastal station in Belgium, on ships during two cruises, and on a platform, in the years 1992–1994. The Slinn and Slinn model is used to calculate the dry deposition from the measured aerosol concentrations. The total (dry and wet) deposition into the North Sea environment is estimated to be (in tonnes per year): 560 for V, 1300 for Cr, 650 for Ni, 690 for Cu, 3500 for Zn and 1970 for Pb. The “giant” particles dominate the fluxes. The atmospheric contribution to the total input into the North Sea, including riverine inputs and direct discharges, are estimated to be 28% for Cu, 29% for Zn and 57% for Pb. The inputs estimated from the experimental data are compared with results from a model applied for the same area and period. The experimental and model results agree within 56%, which is considered as “satisfactory” in view of both the experimental and the model uncertainties.

Two X-ray emission techniques, total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE), were applied to atmospheric trace element determinations and compared with respect to detection properties, speed of analysis, precision and sampling strategy. The advantage of the commercial TXRF system over all the other techniques evaluated was clearly demonstrated. The lowest detection limits were found to be at a level of 0.01 ng m−3. The use of an economical TXRF module exhibited reasonably satisfactory results in this atmospheric research study; the detection limits were about one order of magnitude less favourable than those of the commercial unit. For TXRF, aerosols were collected directly on quartz glass or Plexiglas® carriers in a single-orifice impactor during 3–5 h; the measuring time was some minutes. For PIXE, aerosols were deposited on Nuclepore® filters during 48 h. PIXE was performed under less than optimal conditions using 1.4 MeV protons, and therefore the PIXE detection limits were also recalculated for an optimised setup using 2.5 MeV protons.

The capabilities of total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis were investigated to develop an efficient, simple, rapid and low cost analytical method for aerosols. The technique involves direct impaction of airborne particulate matter on the quartz sample-reflector discs for TXRF. Special attention was paid to bounce-off effects, and hence the aerosol size distributions for the impactor stages; influence of siliconizing the quartz discs on the adhesion of particles; choice of the internal standard; local distribution of the material deposited on the quartz disc; and alternative materials for aerosol collection. Moreover, the proposed method could be used in combination with a one-stage impactor for total aerosol mass collection and analysis.

Air sampling on a series of 10 cruises, spanning the whole area of the North Sea, yielded detailed spatial distributions of atmospheric concentrations of Al, Si, S, Cl, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb determined by EDXRF. A strong influence of the air mass history on the heavy metal concentrations was demonstrated for the whole sampling period of 5 years. Factor analysis performed on all samples collected with a stack filter unit resulted in the identification of three factors for the coarse particle fraction (sulphate particles with trace metals, sea salt particles and soil dust or metallurgic particles containing Fe) and four factors for the fine particle fraction (sea salt, sulphate with Pb and Zn), trace metal particles with Cu, Ni, Zn and fly-ash particles. The same statistics performed on all samples collected above the Southern Bight of the North Sea yielded three factors, namely: sea salt particles, particles enriched in Ni and V, originating from natural oil combustion and particles containing a variety of elements such as S, K, Ca, Fe, Pb, Cu and Zn. Compared with relevant measurements of trace elements in this area, a relatively good agreement can be found.

A multivariate statistical evaluation technique, non-linear mapping, is proposed to extract information from a multielement microbeam proton-induced X-ray emission data set. Individual aerosol particles, collected in the North Sea troposphere, were classified according to their composition. Several groups of particles were identified and suggestions were made for their sources.

Vertical profiles of SO2 and O-3 concentrations were measured continuously within the lower atmosphere during 18 flights over the Southern Eight of the North Sea. The average SO2 concentration below the temperature inversion layer ranged from 1.9 to 19.5 ppb. The highest levels were observed when the air masses came from the southeast-east and under variable wind sector conditions: 15.2 and 12.0 ppb, respectively. The highest SO2 concentrations were found at altitudes between 100 and 200 m. The overall average O-3 concentration was 46 ppb, with values of 30-40 ppb at sea level to 60-70 ppb at altitudes above 100 m. Low O-3 concentrations reflect O-3 depletion through reaction with freshly emitted pollutants, while high O-3 concentrations are an indication of photochemical activity. O-3 concentrations are primarily dependent on seasonal influences, while SO2 levels are dictated more by the history of the sampled air mass. The results are discussed in relation to the heavy metal concentrations, measured within the same experiment. In spite of some differences, SO2 and trace metals showed similar trends. The individual SO2 and O-3 profiles clearly illustrated the high variability in vertical concentration distributions.

Some aspects of micro- and surface-analytical beam techniques for studies of individual airborne particulates are reviewed. Applications of the microanalysis techniques of electron spectroscopic imaging, secondary ion imaging and proton induced x-ray-micro analysis (micro-PIXE) for the characterization of individual particles in environmental samples and chemically modified asbestos fibres are discussed.