Application of radioisotope excited energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence determination of palladium in catalysts and doped venezuelan laterites

A rapid procedure for determining palladium in catalysts and geoiogical materials is presented. This method involves the use of an²⁴¹Am (100 mC) source for excitation and employs a PDP-11/05 processor for the data acquisition and analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The relative standard deviation for 5 independent determinations is less than 3% for 100 seconds of fluorescent time. The calculated and measured values agreed well for both, the prepared standards and the doped Venezuelan laterites. Finally, data on the different sources of error is given including counting time, sample preparation, and total error. This investigation was funded in parts by CONICIT (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Technológicas).