Use of a55Fe radioisotope for the determination of titanium in laterite samples via energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence

A rapid method for the determination of titanium in geochemical samples using a⁵⁵Fe radioisotope as the extraction source coupled to a Si(Li) detector and a PDP-11.05 computer is described. The relative standard deviation for a thin sample about 100 mg in weight is less than 4% and it is achieved in a fluorescent time of 100 sec. Data are given for the use of two different internal standards, KBrO₃ and K₂Cr₂O₇, the latter being more precise. The values for five international reference standards are in agreement for this method with the reported values. Finally, besides being rapid, no hydrofluoric acid dissolution of fusion is necessary as in atomic absorption and classical methods. This paper was presented at the XX Colloquium Spectroscopium Internationale, 8 Aug.–7. Sept. 1977, Prague, Czechoslovakia.