Sample Preparation Optimization for EDXRF Analysis of Portland Cement

Abstract

AbstractVarious sample preparation methods for Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis of Portland cement were compared in order to evaluate improvement in analytical accuracy and precision. Sample preparation requirements for EDXRF are slightly different than for Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF), and the methods commonly used in WDXRF are not optimized for EDXRF. Primarily, the work focuses on techniques for producing a fused sample with the lowest practical concentration of lithium borate flux. Determination of minimum detection limits were made from samples with varying proportions of flux in order to evaluate analytical optimization. Ease and reproducibility of preparation of the sample was also considered.