The application of non-dispersive X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy to the analysis of single elements and simple mixtures

Abstract

A study is made of the application of the method of non-dispersive X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy to problems of chemical analysis. The use of two types of radioactive source, i.e. Pm147 – aluminium brehmestrahlung and Co(^57)low energy gamma rays, to excite fluorescent X-Rays is described. The method is applied to systems consisting of a single heavy element, or binary mixtures of heavy elements (niobium – tantalum and zirconium – hafnium). Dispersed in media of low average atomic number. Calibration curves of fluorescence intensity against element concentration for a wide range of elements are presented. Detection limits for these elements are established, and suggestions made for further work in this field.