DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PURPOSES USING PROTON-INDUCED X-RAY EMISSION (PIXE) AND ENERGY-DISPERSIVE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE (EDXRF) TECHNIQUES

Within the frame of ACE 89 programme in our demonstration project, three different X-ray spectrometry techniques were tested, compared and applied to environmental analytical chemistry. These techniques used are Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF). After the acquisition of the TXRF equipment with financial support of the EC, the TXRF technique was set-up at INETI. The aim of the project was to check each one, for their suitability and reliability to perform multi-element analyses of waters, wastewaters, biological, sediments and contaminated soils samples. The most efficient of these trace-element monitoring techniques was shown to be TXRF for its low detection limits. The purpose is now to apply an adequate scheme of Quality Assurance to TXRF laboratory.