Bead-releasing agents used in the preparation of solid samples as beads for WD-XRF measurement

Abstract

A study has been undertaken of bead-releasing agents that are widely used in preparing solid samples as fused beads for wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF)spectrometry measurement. The following bead-releasing agents were studied: NaI, LiBr, NH4I, and LiI. Each was incorporated in different quantities, as a solid and/or in an aqueous solution, together with a flux, into samples of ceramic raw materials. Release agent interference in the WD-XRF measurement was analysed, and the optimum quantity of release agent needed to obtain suitable beads for WD-XRF measurement was determined. The best results were obtained for LiI, which yielded reproducible beads without significant interference in the WD-XRF measurement when a relatively small quantity (0.11 LiI g/bead) was used