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Quantitative Analysis of Elements in Sediments and Soils by X-Ray Fluorescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

E. R. Tuncer ,
T. Demirel  and
R. A. Lohnes
E. R. Tuncer*
Affiliation:
Engineering Research Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A.
T. Demirel
Affiliation:
Engineering Research Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A.
R. A. Lohnes
Affiliation:
Engineering Research Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A.
*
†Present address: Civil Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
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Abstract

Previous applications of the method of known additions for quantitative X-ray fluorescent analysis have assumed a linear relationship between peak intensity and concentration of the element being analyzed. This assumption is true for soils or sediments containing small amounts of the element in question. In this paper, an equation is derived which takes into account both absorption and enhancement and thus is applicable to samples containing high concentrations of the element. The equation was tested by analyzing an artificial soil sample containing 60% kaolinite and 40% hematite, i.e. the sample contained 28% by weight iron. The fluorescent analysis utilizing the equation derived here resulted in an iron content of 27%. In addition, nine soils from Hawaii were analyzed by this method and the results of these analyses compared with analyses by atomic absorption. The agreement between the two methods is good. It is concluded that the method and equations proposed here provides a reliable measurement of elements in a soil sample which contains high concentrations of the elements in question.

Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , April 1977 , pp. 73 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 1977

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Footnotes

*

Investigations sponsored by U.S. Army Research Office and the Engineering Research Institute, Iowa State University.

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