Abstract
X-ray fluorescence analysis was applied to assess the ecological state of the area potentially polluted by emissions of the aluminum industry and heat power engineering. Soil and pine needle samples were collected in areas with industrial activity and analyzed using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) techniques. Both techniques were validated using the matrix-matched certified reference materials. Different sample preparation procedures, such as fusion and pressing for WDXRF and acid digestion and suspensions for TXRF as well as quantification approaches (the external calibration for WDXRF and the internal standard for TXRF) were applied according to the features of the analyzed samples. The rock-forming oxides (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, and Fe2O3) and trace elements (V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Ba, and Pb) were quantified in soils, as well as several elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Pb, and Ba) were quantified in pine needles. Comparing the results of soils and pine needles analysis with the regional background values indicated a significant contamination pollution level of the studied area.
Highlights
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is widely used for the analysis of several kinds of samples, including rocks, soils, plants, industrial wastes, etc. [1,2] XRF is applied for the environmental monitoring of urbanized areas, potentially polluted by the industrial emissions
Fusion is a versatile technique for wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) analysis of soils due to its ability to minimize the effects of particle size and mineralogical composition
This article discusses the development of the total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and WDXRF techniques for the complex study of compositions of pine needles and soils as indicators of industrial pollution
Summary
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is widely used for the analysis of several kinds of samples, including rocks, soils, plants, industrial wastes, etc. [1,2] XRF is applied for the environmental monitoring of urbanized areas, potentially polluted by the industrial emissions. The certified reference materials (CRMs) of different types of rocks can be used to construct calibration curves, and the best accuracy can be achieved in the determination of major and minor elements The disadvantages of this technique are its relatively high limits of detection (LOD) for minor and trace elements due to the dilution of the sample by flux, as well as the losses of some important volatile elements (As, Br, S) during the fusion. This article discusses the development of the TXRF and WDXRF techniques for the complex study of compositions of pine needles and soils as indicators of industrial pollution. Environmental studies were already led on the investigated area [26,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58] in this work a strategy based on X-ray methods has been developed
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