Matrix effect studies with empirical formulations in maize saplings.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Atomic Physics
• Plant Science

Background:

• Matrix effects in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) are crucial for accurate elemental quantification.
• Previous work established empirical relations for matrix effects based on fundamental parameters.
• These relations link elemental intensities to atomic properties and experimental setups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply derived XRF matrix effect relations to quantify potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) in maize saplings.
• To investigate the determination of elements in the presence of secondary excitation, rather than avoiding it.
• To assess the utility for analyzing samples with interfering constituents with close atomic numbers (Z).

Main Methods:

• Utilized fundamental relations of analyte/matrix element intensities with atomic and experimental parameters.
• Applied these relations to maize saplings treated with varying fertilizers.
• Developed an iterative method for elemental quantification considering secondary fluorescence and enhancement effects.

Main Results:

• Empirically related matrix effects to elemental amounts in synthetic samples.
• Successfully applied these relations to determine K and Ca macronutrients in maize.
• Demonstrated a method to evaluate elemental amounts iteratively, even with secondary excitation.

Conclusions:

• The study validates the application of derived XRF matrix effect relations for analyzing essential plant macronutrients.
• The developed method offers a novel approach for quantifying elements in the presence of secondary fluorescence.
• This technique is particularly useful for analyzing complex samples with interfering elements like Ca and K.