Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

TXRF analysis of soils and sediments to assess environmental contamination

  • Chemistry in a sustainable society
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Total reflection x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (TXRF) is proposed for the elemental chemical analysis of crustal environmental samples, such as sediments and soils. A comparative study of TXRF with respect to flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy was performed. Microwave acid digestion and suspension preparation methods are evaluated. A good agreement was found among the results obtained with different spectroscopic techniques and sample preparation methods for Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn. We demonstrated that TXRF is suitable for the assessment of environmental contamination phenomena, even if the errors for Pb, As, V, and Ba are ingent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ancion PY (2013) Metal concentration in stream biofilm and sediments and their potential to explain biofilm microbial community structure. Environ Pollut 173:117–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bontempi E, Zacco A, Borgese L (2010a) A new method for municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash inertization, based on colloidal silica. J Environ Monit 12:2093–2099. doi:10.1039/c0em00168f

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bontempi E, Zacco A, Benedetti D, Borgese L, Colombi P, Stosnach H, Finzi G, Apostoli P, Buttini P, Depero LE (2010b) Total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) for direct analysis of aerosol particle samples. Environm Techn 31:467–477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borgese L, Bontempi E, Zacco A, Colombi P, Bertuzzi R, Ferretti E, Tenini S, Depero LE (2009) Total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF): a mature technique for environmental chemical nanoscale metrology. IOP Publishing, Measurm Sci & Techn. doi:10.1088/0957-0233/20/8/084027, 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgese L, Zacco A, Bontempi E, Pellegatta M, Vigna L, Patrini L, Riboldi L, Rubino MF, Depero EL (2010) Use of total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) for the evaluation of heavy metal poisoning due to the improper use of a traditional ayurvedic drug. J Pharma and Biomed Anal 52:787–790. doi:10.1016/j.jpba

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borgese L, Zacco A, Pal S (2011) A new non-destructive method for chemical analysis of particulate matter filters: the case of manganese air pollution in Vallecamonica (Italy). TALANTA 84:192–198. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2010.12.048

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borgese L, Salmistraro M, Gianoncelli A, Zacco A, Lucchini R, Zimmerman N, Pisani L, Siviero G, Depero EL, Bontempi E (2012) Airborne particulate matter (PM) filter analysis and modeling by total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and x-ray standing wave (XSW). Talanta 89:99–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borgese L, Federici S, Zacco A, Gianoncelli A, Rizzo L, Smith RD, Donna F, Lucchini R, Depero LE, Bontempi E (2013) Metal fraction in soils and assessment of environmental contamination in Vallecamonica Italy. Environ Sci Pollut Res 10:1007

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler OT, Cairns WRL, Cook JM, Davidson CM (2012) Atomic spectroscopy update. Environmental analysis. J Anal Atom Spectrom 27:187–221. doi:10.1039/c1ja90057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) (1999) in: Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines, Canada

  • Cataldo F (2012) Multielement analysis of a municipal landfill leachate with total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF). A comparison with ICP-OES analytical results. J Radionanal Nucl Chem 293:119–126. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-1777-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danel A, Kohno H, Veillerot M, Cabuil N, Lardin T, Despois D, Geoffrey C (2008) Comparison of direct-total reflection x-ray fluorescence, sweeping- total reflection x-ray fluorescence and vapor phase decomposition total reflection x-ray fluorescence applied to the characterization of metallic contamination on semiconductor. Spectrochim Acta Part B-Atom Spectroscopy 63:1375–1381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Caritat P, Reimann C, NGSA Project Team and GEMAS Project Team (2012) Comparing results from two continental geochemical surveys to world soil composition and deriving Predicted Empirical Global Soil (PEGS2) reference values. Earth Planet Sci Lett 319–320:269–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ESDAT 2000 Dutch target and intervention values. www.esdat.net. Accessed July 2013

  • Espinoza-Quinones FR (2010) Water quality assessment of Toledo river and determination of metal concentration. J Radional Nucl Chem 283:465–470

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Espinoza-Quińones FR, Módenes AN, Palácio SM, Lorenz EK, Oliveira AP (2011) Analysis of metal concentration levels in water, sediment and fish tissues from Toledo municipal lake by applying SR-TXRF technique. Water Sci Technol 63(1506):37. doi:10.2166/wst.2011.396

    Google Scholar 

  • Giri B, Patel KS, Jaiswal NK, Sharma S et al (2013) Composition and sources of organic tracers in aerosol particles of industrial central India. Athmosph Res 120:312–324. doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2012.09.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabata Pendias A, Pendias (2001) Environmental biogeochemistry—outline of the development. Prz Geol 49:957–959

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamala-Kannan S, Dass Batvari BP, Lee KJ, Kannan N et al (2008) Assessment of heavy metals (Cd, Cr and Pb) in water, sediment and seaweed (Ulva lactuca) in the Pulicat Lake. South East India Chemosphere 71:1233–1240

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lattuada RM, Menezes CTB, Pavei PT, Peralba MCR, Dos Santos JHZ (2009) Determination of metals by total reflection x-ray fluorescence and evaluation of toxicity of a river impacted by coal mining in the south of Brasil. J Hazard Materials 163:531–537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Margui E, Tapias JC, Casas A, Hidalgo M, Queralt I (2010a) Analysis of inlet and outlet industrial wastewater effluents by means of a bench-top total reflection x-ray fluorescence. Chemosphere 80:263–270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Margui E, Kregsamer P, Hidalgo M, Tapias J, Queralt I, Streli C (2010b) Analytical approaches for Hg determination in wastewater samples by means of total reflection x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Talanta 82:821–827

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Margui E, Floor GH, Hidalgo M (2010c) Analytical possibilities of total reflection x-ray spectrometry (TXRF) for trace selenium determination in soils. Anal Chem 82:7744–7751. doi:10.1021/ac101615w

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez T, Lartigue J, Zarazua G, Avila-Perez P, Navarrete M, Tejeda S (2008) Application of total reflection x-ray fluorescence technique to trace elements determination in tobacco. Spectrochim Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy 63:1469–1472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montero Alvarez A, Estévez Alvarez JR, Padilla Alvarez R (2007) Heavy metals analysis of rainwater: a comparison of TXRF and ASV analytical capabilities. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 273:427–433. doi:10.1007/s10967-007-6895-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreira S, Fazza EV (2008) Evaluation of water and sediment of the Graminha and Aguas da Serra streams in the city of Limeira (Sp-Brazil) by synchrotron radiation total reflection x-ray fluorescence. Spectrochim Acta Part B-Atom Spectroscopy 63:1432–1444. doi:10.1016/j.sab.2008.10.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Necemer M, Kump P, Scancar J (2008) Application of x-ray fluorescence analytical techniques in phytoremediation and plant biology studies. Spectrochim Acta Part B-Atom Specrtoscop 63:1240–1247. doi:10.1016/j.sab.2008.07.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Opfer ES, Farver RJ, Miner GJ, Kriger K (2011) Heavy metals in sediments and uptake by burrowing mayflies in western Lake Erie basin. Jof Great Lake Research 37:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patel KS, Shrivas K, Brandt R, Jakubowski N et al (2005) Arsenic contamination in water, soil, sediment and rice of central India. Environ Geochem Health 27:131–154. doi:10.1007/s10653-005-0120-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patel KS, Shrivas K, Hoffmann P, Jakubowski N, Patel RK (2006) A survey of lead pollution in Chhattisgarh State. Central India, Environ Geochem Health 28:11–17. doi:10.1007/s10653-005-9006-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patel VS, Verma A, Jaiswal NK, Sahu BL, Shrivas K, Raab A, Feldmann J, Borgese L, Gianoncelli A, Bontempi E, Lautent M, Bhattacharya P (2012) Arsenic concentration in soil, rice and straw in central India, Understanding the Geological and Medical Interface of Arsenic, 4th International Congress: Arsenic in the Environment, 508–509

  • Perez Avila P, Tejeda S (2007) Evaluation of distribution and bioavailability of Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb in the waters of the upper course of the Lerma River. X-Ray Spectrom 36:361–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rashid SA, Masoodi A, Khan FA (2013) Sediment-water interaction at higher altitudes: example from the geochemistry of Wular Lake sediments. Kashmir Valley, northern India. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science 7:786–789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reimann C, De Caritat P (2005) Distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic sources for elements in the environment: regional geochemical surveys versus enrichment factors. Sci Total Environ 337:91–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Safarova IV, Shaidullina FG, Nikheeva NT, Kadusheva KF (2011) Methods of sample preparation of soil, botton sediments, and soil wastes for atomic absorption determination of heavy metals. Inorg Materials 47:1512–1517

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sartore L, Barbaglio M, Borgese L, Bontempi E (2011) Polymer-grafted QCM chemical sensor and application to heavy metal ions real time detection. Sensors Actuators B 155:538–544

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Serbula SM (2012) Assessment of airborne heavy metal pollution using plant parts and topsoil. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 76:209–214. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.10.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shuely AW, Ibrahim ZZ, Al- Kind A, Al-Saidi S, Kahn T (2009) Heavy metals content on beach sediments north and south of Sohar industrial area, Oman. J of Environ And Techn 2:73–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasa Gowd S, Ramakrishna Reddy M, Govil PK (2010) Assessment of heavy metals contamination in soils at Jajmau (Kanpur) and Unnao industrial areas of the Ganga Plain, Uttar Pradesh, India. J Hazardous Mat 174:113–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stosnach H (2005) Environmental trace element analysis using a benchtop total reflection x-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Anal Sci 21:873–876. doi:10.2116/analsci.21.873

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stostnach H (2006) On-site analysis of heavy metal contaminated areas by means of total reflection x-ray fluorescence analysis (TXRF). Spectrochim Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy 61:1141–1145. doi:10.1016/j.sab.2006.06.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Streli C (2006) Recent advances in TXRF. Appl Spectroscopy Reviews 41:473–489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tavares GA, Almeida E, Oliveria JGG, Bendassoli JA, Nascimento Filho VF (2011) Elemental content in deionized water by total reflection x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 287:377–381

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waheed S (2010) Assessing soil pollution from a municipal waste dump in Islamabad, Pakistan, a study by INAA and AAS. J Radional Nucl Chem 285:723–732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • West M, Ellis AT, Potts PJ (2011) Atomic spectrometry update—x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. J Anal Atom Spectrochem 26:1919–1963. doi:10.1039/c1ja90038b

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wisconsin Departmental of Natural Resources (2003). Consensus based sediment quality guidelines. Recommendations for use and application. Department of Interior, Washington DC 20240 pp 17

  • Yang L (2010) A review of heavy metal contaminations in urban soils, urban road dust, agriculture soils from China. Microchem J 94:99–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof K.S. Patel of Pt Ravishankar Shukla Univ, Sch Studies Chem (Raipur, India) for samples supply and Dr.ssa Patrizia Vannini and Dr. Marco Volante of ARPA Lombardia settore laboratory U.O. Laboratorio di Brescia (Brescia, Italy) for the useful data discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, Università di Brescia, via Branze 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy

    Fabjola Bilo, Laura Borgese, Davide Cazzago, Annalisa Zacco, Elza Bontempi & Laura E. Depero

  2. ARPA Lombardia settore laboratory U.O. Laboratorio di Brescia, via Cantore 20, 25128, Brescia, Italy

    Rita Guarneri, Marco Bernardello & Silvia Attuati

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tirana, Bulevardi Zogu i Pare, Tirana, Albania

    Pranvera Lazo

Authors
  1. Fabjola Bilo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura Borgese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Davide Cazzago
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Annalisa Zacco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Elza Bontempi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Rita Guarneri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Marco Bernardello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Silvia Attuati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Pranvera Lazo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Laura E. Depero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Borgese.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bilo, F., Borgese, L., Cazzago, D. et al. TXRF analysis of soils and sediments to assess environmental contamination. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 13208–13214 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2203-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2203-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation