Trace Element Analysis
Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence analysis has been applied to non-destructive
trace element analysis of samples of biological, environmental,
mineralogical and industrial interest. The minimum detection limits are
of the order of ppb(parts per billion). Using a SR X-ray microbeam,
two-dimensional distributions of trace elements (elemental images) may
be obtained with a lateral resolution of a few micrometers.
The X-ray microbeam technique has been applied also to surface
and chemical state analysis in a spatial scale of a few micro-meters.
Optical micrograph (a) and fluorescent intensity distributions (b-e)
from the cross section of a human hair. b: sulphur, c: potassium,
d: copper and e: zinc.
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