Portable Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer with a Detection Limit in the 100 ng/L Range

In this study, a method was presented for detecting low concentrations of elements in a high purity water sample using a portable total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer. Preparing the dry residue of a sample droplet with large volume on a hydrophobic film coated sample holder was effective for improving the detection limit expressed as the concentration of a target element in a sample solution. When a TXRF spectrum of the dry residue of a 200 mu L droplet of a solution containing 10 mu g/L of Cr that was prepared by diluting a commercially available 1 000 mg/L Cr standard solution with ultrapure water on a hydrophobic film coated sample holder was measured, a detection limit of 0.13 mu g/L was achieved for Cr.

Automated summary

In this study, a method for detecting low concentrations of elements in high purity water samples using a portable total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometer was presented. The detection limit was improved by preparing the dry residue of a sample droplet with a large volume on a hydrophobic film coated sample holder.