Cameron Adams (University of Western Australia and Portable Spectral Services) and Christabel Brand (Portable Spectral Services) recently published their findings from a comprehensive study involving the use of portable XRF for light element (e.g. Na, Mg, Al, Si) analysis. This peer reviewed article discusses important hardware factors that effect signal and investigates how to improve precision, measurement speed and light-element sensitivity using new applications. The effects of different protective films, detector windows (including new graphene windows) and vacuum and helium purges are explored and compared to conventional (in-air) portable XRF instrumentation.
Figure 1: CXRO X-ray transmission effectiveness models presented within Adams et al. (2020). Protective X-ray entrance (nose) window is ≈3 μm thick; sample film is ≈4 μm thick and combined polymeric film thickness equates to ≈7 μm. Corresponding Kα absorption energies of common abundant elements are annotated. Argon Kβ absorption edge (noted in red) is visible in the air models. The use of helium (solid lines) significantly improve X-ray transmission for elements lighter than Si; X-ray transmission is further improved by combining helium and graphene technologies.
Cameron Adams is a consulting Technical Geoscientist at Portable Spectral Services.
Christabel Brand is Managing Director at Portable Spectral Services.
Findings of an ongoing regional evaluation study over concealed Proterozoic lithologies known to host magmatic nickel sulphides with potential to host other base-metal, gold and rare earth elements (“REE”) systems within the Fraser Range, Western Australia.
Portable XRF technology has improved dramatically over the last decade to the point that your average handheld instrument can measure from uranium, all the way
Precision and accuracy are two of the most important concepts to understand when thinking about pXRF technology. “Portable XRF instruments are precise but not accurate.”
Periodic Table of Elements highlighting the light elements As we know, portable XRF technology works by bombarding samples with X-rays and causing their atoms to
Licensing Portable XRFs in Australia An important part of using a portable XRF (pXRF) is the correct licencing of the instrument in the state where
Portable Spectral Services’ Schedule of Hire, Support Services & Fees is now available!
