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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Quantifying X-Ray Fluorescence Data Using MAPS
Published on: February 17, 2018
Fast determination of trace elements on aerosol-loaded filters by X-ray fluorescence analysis considering the
G Steinhoff1, O Haupt, W Dannecker
1Institute of Inorganic and Applied Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Germany.
Abstract:
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was successfully applied for the determination of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn on aerosol filters with a diameter of 150 mm. Ambient aerosol was collected on quartz-fibre filters by Digitel high-volume samplers. For XRF analysis three small filter pieces with a diameter of 32 mm were cut out of each filter, considering the radial dependence of elemental distribution on the filter. Elemental concentration decreases by 8-10% from the centre to the outer circle for coarse mode elements. Distribution of fine mode elements display only small radial dependence (2-4%). Results of quantitative analysis by XRF were compared with atomic spectrometric methods (GF-AAS, ICP-OES). The good agreement between the methods confirmed the application of XRF spectrometry for routine analysis of filter samples loaded with ambient aerosol.
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