Use of X-ray Scattering in Absorption Corrections for X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Aerosol Loaded Filters

Abstract

Two methods are described for computing multielement x-ray absorption corrections for aerosol samples collected in IPC-1478 and Whatman 4l filters. The first relies on scatter peak intensities and scattering cross sections to estimate the mass of light elements (Z < l4) in the sample. This mass is used -with the measured heavy element (Z ≥l4) masses to iteratively compute sample absorption corrections. The second method utilizes a linear function of ln(μ) vs. ln(E) determined from the scatter peak ratios and estimates sample mass from the scatter peak intensities. Both methods assume a homogeneous depth distribution of aerosol in a fraction of the front of the filters, and the assumption is evaluated with respect to an exponential aerosol depth distribution. Penetration depths for various real, synthetic and liquid aerosols were measured.