X-ray Analysis

Everyone loves a list, and the editors of Spectroscopy are no exception! In 2013, Spectroscopy covered a wide array of topics throughout the year to bring you the most relevant information for your work, on topics ranging from selecting the right ICP-MS system to deciding which Raman technique is right for you, from our annual salary survey to calibration transfer. Here is a list of 13 popular articles and columns from 2013

Click here to view the complete Wavelength newsletter from November 12, 2013.

The main areas of training necessary for a good foundation in the analytical methodology of XRF spectroscopy are discussed.

Researchers continue to find new uses for portable X-ray fluorescence and portable Raman techniques in the field. Mary Kate Donais, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at Saint Anselm College, recently spoke to us about her experiences with these techniques at an archaeological excavation site in Italy.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can be used to determine the contaminants present on laboratory gloves and to evaluate the type and amount of contamination transfer from gloves to other surfaces.

Raman has a unique capability to characterize nanoscale materials that are between crystalline and amorphous.

This November, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory will be launched on a mission to Mars that will deploy a new rover, called "Curiosity." Curiosity will include several analytical instruments, including "CheMin," which uses X-ray diffraction (XRD) and also has limited X-ray fluorescence (XRF) capabilities.

Koen Janssens, professor of chemistry at the University of Antwerp (Belgium), uses synchrotron radiation-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to analyze historic works of art. In a recent study, he used various spectroscopic techniques, including several X-ray methods, to reveal the process by which the yellow paint in some of Vincent Van Gogh?s paintings darkened over time.

Here's a preview what you'll hear at the Denver X-ray Conference.

From the field to the synchrotron, XRF is expanding its power and scope.

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) provides sensitive analysis of the atomic composition of samples. The technique is particularly well-suited for analyzing the elemental range from sodium to uranium, which covers the majority of the metallic elements.

Building on more than 10 years of Micro-XRF experience, the Orbis spectrometer yields a system with excellent Micro-XRF capability while setting a new standard in analytical flexibility.

The measurement of the elemental composition of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in air is a key factor in understanding the health effects of pollution.

One of the most common product safety-related analytical tests in the pharmaceutical industry (often referred to as a Limit Test) is the quantification of heavy metals or inorganics in all materials within a pharmaceutical product.

Volker Thomsen takes a look at the impact that the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 has had on the world.

The author discusses the improvements offered by silicon drift detector energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SDD-EDS) systems over the classic Si(Li)-EDS for mapping the compositional microstructure of matter with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

X-ray diffractometry (XRD) is an X-ray–based method for determining the crystal structure of a material. Because X-ray wavelengths are of roughly the same size as the interatomic spacings of a crystal, significant diffraction of the waves occurs.

The authors present an overview of the chemical analysis process.

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) is one of the primary analytical tools used in the cement industry for a variety of related applications. The principle of XRF is relatively simple; a source directs X-rays onto the atoms of the sample, ejecting electrons from the inner electron shells.

The twentieth century saw the rise of several novel instrumental techniques based on the use of X-rays. Today, X-ray spectroscopy and diffractometry continue to prove their utility as advances in instrumentation produce new methods and enable new applications.

The "fundamental parameters" approach to calibration in X-ray fluorescence is unique because it is based upon the theoretical relationship between measured X-ray intensities and the concentrations of elements in the sample. This theoretical relationship is based upon X-ray physics and the measured values of fundamental atomic parameters in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this tutorial, an introduction to the means of calibration is provided based upon a simplified instrument–sample geometry, thus eliminating some of the mathematical details of the traditional derivations.

September 2006. The authors discuss the benefits of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the determination of elemental nutrients in foodstuffs and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the measurement and characterization of different compounds used in the pharmaceuticals industry.

Spectroscopy previews all of the events and happenings at the 55th Annual Denver X-Ray Conference, to be held August 7-11 in Denver, Colorado.

This tutorial reviews the mathematical models for dealing with interelement effects in optical emission and X-ray fluorescence spectrochemical analysis. Line overlaps and matrix effect corrections are examined.

In this article, the authors discuss the basic premises that underlie the science of spectrochemistry, which has been humorously referred to as a "black art" by some.

In this X-ray tutorial, the authors attempt to answer the frequently asked question, "How deep do the X-rays penetrate my sample?"

Innov-X Corporate Profile (PDF)

Spectroscopy previews products and sessions for attendees to see and participate in at the 54th Annual Denver X-Ray Conference, to be held August 1–5 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Using MXRF, researchers have developed a novel method that detects fingerprints through the salts that are excreted in sweat.