Trace elements distribution and post-mortem intake in human bones from Middle Age by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

The purpose of the present work is to investigate the suitability of TXRF technique to study the distribution of trace elements along human bones of the 13th century, to conclude about environmental conditions and dietary habits of old populations and to study the uptake of some elements from the surrounding soil.In this work, we used TXRF to quantify and to make profiles of the elements through long bones. Two femur bones, one from a man and another from a woman, buried in the same grave were cross-sectioned in four different points at a distance of 1 cm. Microsamples of each section were taken at a distance of 1 mm from each other.Quantitative analysis was performed for Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba and Pb. Very high concentrations of Mn and Fe were obtained in the whole analysed samples, reaching values higher than 2% in some samples of trabecular tissue, very much alike to the concentrations in the burial soil. A sharp decrease for both elements was observed in cortical tissue. Zn and Sr present steady concentration levels in both kinds of bone tissues. Pb and Cu show very low concentrations in the inner tissue of cortical bone. However, these concentrations increase in the regions in contact to trabecular tissue and external surface in contact with the soil, where high levels of both elements were found. We suggest that contamination from the surrounding soil exists for Mn and Fe in the whole bone tissue. Pb can be both from post-mortem and ante-mortem origin. Inner compact tissue might represent in vivo accumulation and trabecular one corresponds to uptake during burial. The steady levels of Sr and Zn together with soil concentration lower levels for these elements may allow us to conclude that they are originated from in vivo incorporation in the hydroxyapatite bone matrix.     

Determination of trace elements in Syrian medicinal plants and their infusions by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) techniques suited well for a multi-element determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr in some Syrian medicinal plant species. The accuracy and the precision of both techniques were verified by analyzing the Standard Reference Materials (SRM) peach-1547 and apple leaves-1515. A good agreement between the measured concentrations of the previously mentioned elements and the certified values were obtained with errors less than 10.7% for TXRF and 15.8% for XRF. The determination of Br was acceptable only by XRF with an error less than 24%. Furthermore, the XRF method showed a very good applicability for the determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, and Br in infusions of different Syrian medicinal plant species, namely anise (Anisum vulgare), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and white wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba).     

Determination of uranium in human urine by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

Uranium has been classified as a toxic chemical. It affects the kidneys, with nephritis being the primarily chemically-induced effect in animals and humans. Intermediate-term studies on animals indicate that increased uranium doses are positively correlated with various biochemical effects and histopathological changes. Since the kidneys efficiently excrete in urine the major portion of solubilized uranium circulating in blood, an increased urinary uranium excretion can provide a sensitive quantitative measure of exposure, especially in the case of acute exposure. In the present work a method was developed for the quantitative determination of uranium in human urine. It combines the chemical treatment of urine, which results in a significant pre-concentration of uranium, with its subsequent detection by means of total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). The method has been proven to be relatively fast, offering detection limits that allow for monitoring uranium intake above normal levels.     

Identification of steel by X-ray fluorescence analysis with a pyroelectric X-ray generator

An application of X-ray fluorescence analysis with a pyroelectric X-ray generator is presented. Steel standard samples were identified by X-ray fluorescence analysis with this novel X-ray generator to check its capability for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis as an X-ray source for X-ray fluorescence spectrometers. Cr, Ni, V, Co, and W were detected in steel standard samples. V and Cr can be detected even when the content is below 1%. Although it is difficult to detect minor elements because of the low power of the excitation X-rays, it is possible to identify the analyzed samples on the basis of major elements at the percentage level. The pyroelectric X-ray generator is very suitable for portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometers.     

Pre-concentration of rare earths using silica gel loaded with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and determination by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence

The determination of a single rare earth element in a mixture with other species of this family is a very challenging problem in analytical chemistry due to the close similarity of their chemical properties. In this work, a liquid–solid extraction procedure for praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and yttrium mixtures and subsequent determination by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is described. The pre-concentration procedure, which involves the use of silica modified with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol, permits complete recovery of the rare earths and significant sensitivity enhancement in comparison with direct determination in the aqueous phase. Determinations in quaternary mixtures show typical precisions and accuracies of 3% and 5%, respectively.     

Trace elements determination by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) in human placenta and membrane: a comparative study

This work is an application of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) as an analytical technique for trace elemental determination in human membrane and placenta and elemental concentrations correlations in both tissues. Whole samples were collected during the delivery from healthy mothers and full-term pregnancies. The age of the mother was between 25 and 40 years old, and the weight of the infants ranged from 2.56 to 4.05 kg. Samples were lyophilised and analysed without any chemical treatment. No significant differences in elemental content of placenta and membrane samples were observed except for Ca. Very low levels of Se, As and Pb were observed in all the analysed samples. Zn, considered as one of the key elements in newborn health, was not significantly different in the analysed samples, all of which originated from healthy mothers and healthy babies. The obtained values agree with the literature except for Ca, which is much higher in the studied samples.     

X射线荧光光谱法测定重整铂催化剂中氯

建立重整铂催化剂中氯的X射线荧光光谱测定方法。通过研磨机将铂催化剂研磨至粒径小于75 μm的颗粒,采用仪器压片制样,通过测量不同氯含量样品的计数率,建立铂催化剂中氯含量与计数率的线性关系。氯的质量分数在0.85%~1.04%范围内与计数率成良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9995,检出限为0.0076%。样品加标回收率为96.2%~104.2%,测定结果的相对标准偏差小于2%(n=6)。该法测定结果与电位滴定法相吻合。该方法精密度高,分析速度快,满足重整装置生产调整的要求。     

X射线荧光光谱法测定地质样品中的硫和氟

采用粉末压片制样-X射线荧光光谱法研究地质样品中硫(S)和氟(F)元素的快速测定方法。通过分级过筛实验优化确定样品粒度,探讨样品粒度对测定结果的影响,并进行实际样品和标准物质验证。结果显示,样品粒度为85μm时,经实际样品和标准物质验证,测定结果与化学值和标准认定值相符,且相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于2%。方法具有准确度高、检出限好、测试范围宽、简便快速等优点,能确保样品分析结果的准确性,实现了地质样品中S和F的快速测定。     

Trace elements in human cancerous and healthy tissues: A comparative study by EDXRF,TXRF, synchrotron radiation and PIXE

It is known that trace elements play an important role in a number of biological processes. These include the activation or inhibition of enzymatic reactions, competition between elements and metal proteins for binding positions and modifications in the permeability of cellular membranes. These elements may also influence carcinogenic processes, thus the knowledge of trace element concentrations in healthy and neoplastic tissues might help in diagnostic and in the etiology and development of cancer.     

X射线荧光光谱法快速测定费托蜡中铁

通过对费托蜡(合成蜡、渣蜡)创新制样与装样、测试条件优化,利用仪器自带的基本参数法无标样半定量分析软件,建立了X射线荧光光谱(XRF)测定费托蜡中Fe的方法。测定的相对标准偏差<1%、典型分析时间10 min/样,无需标样。与ICP-AES测定结果相比较,相对误差低于10%,同时降低了蜡样测试对仪器真空度或分光晶体产生的不良影响。     

X射线荧光光谱法测定金红石中主次组分

采用Li2B4O7和LiBO2的混合熔剂(67∶33)熔融制样,波长色散X射线荧光光谱法测定金红石中TiO2,TFe,P,SiO2,Al2O3,MnO,CaO,Cr2O3,MgO,ZrO2,HfO2等组分。实验中样品和熔剂的质量比为1∶14,以溴化锂(LiBr)作脱模剂,采用高频熔炉在1 150℃熔融90s进行制样,所得熔片均匀、强度高、成型良好。方法用于金红石实际样品的测定,结果同参考值或化学分析方法的结果相吻合,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=10)P为3.8%、Al2O3为2.8%,其它均小于2%,能够满足实际测定工作的需要。     

Study of biofilm formation by total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

A total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometric method was developed for elemental analysis of natural biofilms grown on polycarbonate substrates in the Lake Velence. For the duration of 9 weeks long growing period, two substrates were removed weekly from the lake and investigated by analytical and algological methods. The total biomass production achieved its highest value after 7 weeks. Ca, Sr and Ti, as well as Fe, Mn, K and Zn showed their maximum concentrations in the biofilms after 5 and 6-7 weeks, respectively. The enrichment factors of the 6 weeks old biofilm for the detected seven elements amounted to 10³-10⁴. The recommended colonization time for biomonitoring of the Lake Velence is 6 weeks applying polycarbonate substrates.     

Chemical characterization of particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)

Summary This paper presents the first measurement of the elemental composition of the suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere of Londrina city (Paraná State, Brazil). The sampling was accomplished in the summer of 2003 and in the winter of 2002, with a stacker filter holder, collecting simultaneously the fine particulates (PM_2.5) and the coarse particulates (PM₁₀). The concentration of K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb associated with particulate matter was determined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The results of the grouping analysis suggested that the elements in the aerosol particles came from two sources: soil re-suspension and industrial or anthropogenic activities.     

Titanium dioxide determination in sunscreen by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence methodology

Nowadays there are many sun-protection cosmetics incorporating chemical and/or physical UV filters as active ingredients and there are no official methods to determine these kinds of compounds in sunscreen cosmetics. The objective of this work is to estimate TiO₂ concentration, without sample preparation, employing a portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), aiming to estimate the sun protection factor (SPF) due to the physical barrier in sunscreen composition, and also identify the metals present in the samples. A portable EDXRF system was used for the analysis of fifteen commercial samples. It was also prepared three formulations estimated in FPS-30 using TiO₂ at 5%. Quantification was performed using calibration curves with standards from 1 to 30%. The physical barrier contribution in the SPF, associated to Ti concentration, was determined for all samples. The presence of some elements, like K, Zn, Br and Sr was detected in the sunscreen, identifying chemical elements that were not cited in the formulations. Three commercial samples were analyzed for total SPF determination and the result shows that the measured value is 10% lower than the nominal one.     

X射线荧光光谱理论强度计算中激发因子的选择

激发因子是X射线荧光强度理论计算中的重要参数。对目前常用的四种激发因子算法进行了较为详细的比较,并设计了一种评价激发因子算法的实验方法,即用人工合成试样测定了八对能量接近的X射线特征谱线的强度比,然后根据不同的激发因子算法用理论方法计算出这些谱线对的强度比值,以两者的接近程度来判断这四种激发因子算法的适用性。结果表明,使用NRLXRF程序修改版中的激发因子算法计算出来的理论强度比与实测值之间的相对偏差最小。     

Analysis of pigments and coverings by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro Raman spectroscopy (MRS) in the cemetery of Tutugi (Galera, Granada, Spain) and the settlement convento 2 (Montemayor, Córdoba, Spain)

This paper focuses on the identification of the composition of the coverings and pigments of two archaeological sites. The sites researched here lie in Andalusia and show two contexts, which have a highly symbolic and ritual meaning. The first, Convento 2 (Montemayor, Córdoba), dates back to the period of formation of the Iberian Culture (VIIth century b.c.). The second is the cemetery of Tutugi (Galera, Granada), of the mid-Iberian period (IVth century b.c.). The analytical procedure consisted in combined and complementary use of XRD and MRS. This allowed to identify the materials used, namely hematite, goethite, coal, gypsum and calcite. Identification of these materials proves essential for the restoration and musealization of both archaeological sites.     

Application of total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in material analysis

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with total reflection conditions is applied in the qualitative and quantitative determination of impurities in thin layers of Ti, TiO₂, and HfO₂ prepared by evaporation and of SiO₂, TiO₂, and Ta₂O₅ prepared by ion beam sputtering. The same method is used to examine stainless steel discs, which have to be used as reference materials,Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

In-line determination of U,Pu and Np in process streams by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF)

A -ray source of 300 keV was used in order to excite the fluorescent K-radiation of the heavy elements which is only weakly absorbed in the walls of metal tubes. Thus, uranium can be determined quantitatively in solutions within tubes in the concentration range form 5 mg/l to 100 g/l. The influences of the energy and the activity of the radiation source, the geometrical arrangement, the thickness of the wall and the wall material have been investigated.     

Variation of the L X-ray fluorescence cross-sections, intensity ratios and fluorescence yields of Sm and Eu in halogen compounds

The chemical effect on the L_i (i=ι, α, β, β₁, β₂, γ) X-ray fluorescence cross-sections, the L X-ray intensity ratios and the average L shell fluorescence yields of Sm and Eu binary compounds with halogen (F, Cl and Br) were investigated. The samples were excited by 59.543 keV photons emitted from an Am-241 radioisotope source. X-rays emitted from the samples were counted by means of a Si(Li) detector, which has a resolution 155 eV at 5.9 keV. The experimental values were compared with the calculated theoretical values