Environmental
EDXRF / XRF for Food, Cosmetics, Fertilizer, Feeds, and Environmental Analysis
Elemental Analysis of Food, Feeds, Fertilizers, Soils, Sediments, Personal Care Products, Water, Wastewater, Air Filters, and More
For characterization and remediation of contaminated soils, sediments, and sludges, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis provides quick and reliable assays. EDXRF is a standard technique recognized by the U.S. EPA and is routinely employed to determine heavy metal concentrations (RCRA metals) in soils and sediments.
In addition to soils, Rigaku XRF spectrometers may be used with the Ultra Carry® technique to quantify trace elements in aqueous (water) samples down to parts-per-billion (ppb) concentration levels. Rigaku’s EDXRF technology and know-how provide several unique solutions for environmental determinations.
Application Notes
Soil & Sediment Analysis Without Standards
NEX CG II Series analyzers are powered by Rigaku’s RPF-SQX Fundamental Parameters (FP) software, featuring Rigaku Profile Fitting (RPF) technology and Scattering FP. This software allows semi-quantitative analysis of almost all sample types without standards – and rigorous quantitative analysis with standards. Rigaku’s Scattering FP method automatically estimates the concentration of unmeasurable low atomic number elements (hydrogen to fluorine) and provides appropriate corrections.
Calibration standards can be expensive and difficult to obtain for many applications. With RPF-SQX, the number of required standards are greatly reduced, significantly lowering the cost of ownership and reducing workload requirements for running routine analyses.
Environment Information & Resources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Contaminated Sediments Science Priorities (PDF) – US EPA 2004
- “Issues: Water” – from Natural Resources Defense Council (US non-profit)
- Digital Water Education Library – Water Resources – Colorado State University
- Water pollution advice for businesses – United Kingdom
- Bibliography on Water Resources and International Law – The Netherlands
- CADDIS – US EPA guide for identifying pollution problems
- European Portal for Soil and Water Management
- Soil Contamination in China
- Want to Help Reduce Water Pollution? Here’s How…
- Wikipedia: Soil pollution
- Wikipedia: Toxic waste
- Wikipedia: Water pollution
