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X-ray Fluorescence Analysis

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Encyclopedia of Geochemistry

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

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Definition

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis is one of the best analytical techniques to perform nondestructive elemental analysis of solid or liquid samples for major and minor components. A sample is excited by bombarding with X-rays causing ejection of inner electrons with subsequent emission of the characteristic (fluorescence) X-rays of the sample. The energy of the fluorescence X-rays is a characteristic of an element, and their intensities are proportional to the number of excited atoms and thus can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the sample .

Introduction

Since discovery of X-rays by Rontgen in 1895, interaction of X-rays with an atom became a target of eager study in physics research, and X-ray spectroscopy was developed (Bertin 1978). At early stage of X-ray spectroscopy development, Moseley (1913) showed that the chemical composition of a substance can be determined with the aid of X-ray spectroscopy. However,...

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References

  • Bertin EP (1978) Introduction to X-ray spectrometric analysis. Plenum Press, New York, pp 1–3

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  • Moseley HGJ (1913) XCIII. The high-frequency spectra of the elements. Philos Mag 26:1024–1034

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  • Muller R (1972) Spectrochemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence. Springer, New York, pp 11–129, pp 215–324

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  • Nakai I (2004) High energy X-ray fluorescence. In: Tsuji K, Injuk J, Griken RV (eds) X-ray spectrometry: recent technological advance. Wiley, pp 355–372

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Tokyo University of Science, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8601, Japan

    Izumi Nakai

Authors
  1. Izumi Nakai
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Correspondence to Izumi Nakai .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth, Cornell University Department of Earth, Ithaca, New York, USA

    William M. White

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Nakai, I. (2017). X-ray Fluorescence Analysis. In: White, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39193-9_321-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39193-9_321-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39193-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39193-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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