Abstract
The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) can be used to examine hydrated biological samples and observe dynamic processes in the SEM chamber. We have used the ESEM to explore solvent/sample interactions in a number of agricultural products. Two examples are given below.Unidentified crystals were observed by SEM on the surface of a pelletized pesticide. The identity of these crystals was sought. EDS revealed the presence of copper, sulfur and phosphorus, but did not allow positive identification. The ESEM was used to identify a solvent that could extract the crystals for identification by other analytical techniques. Figure 1 shows the uncoated pellet surface at low magnification. Figure 2 shows the surface of a pellet after a drop of methylene chloride was applied to the sample and pumped away with the ESEM vacuum. Figures 3 and 4 are the same surface of a single pellet before and after chloroform was used to briefly extract the surface. Of several solvents investigated in this way, chloroform appeared to extract the crystals with the least disruption of the pellet's surface.
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