Optimising Sample Preparation and Calibrations in EDXRF for Quantitative Soil Analysis

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) is a rapid and inexpensive method for soil analysis; however, analytical results are influenced by particle size effects and spectral interferences. The objective of this study was to optimise sample preparation and calibrations to improve th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agronomy (Basel) 2020-09, Vol.10 (9), p.1309
Main Authors: Croffie, Maame E. T., Williams, Paul N., Fenton, Owen, Fenelon, Anna, Metzger, Konrad, Daly, Karen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Archives & records
Calibration
Chromium
Copper
elemental analysis
Inductively coupled plasma
Iron
Laboratories
Libraries
Magnesium
Manganese
Methods
Nickel
Optical emission spectroscopy
Optimization
Reference materials
Sample preparation
Size effects
soil
Soil analysis
Soil contamination
Soil dispersion
Soil pollution
Soil properties
Soil testing
Soil texture
Soils
Spectrometry
Texture
Tillage
Trace elements
X ray fluorescence analysis
X-Ray fluorescence
X-rays
Zinc
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Summary:Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) is a rapid and inexpensive method for soil analysis; however, analytical results are influenced by particle size effects and spectral interferences. The objective of this study was to optimise sample preparation and calibrations to improve the accuracy of EDXRF for soil tests. Methods of sample preparation were compared by calculating the recoveries of 13 elements in four International Soil-Analytical Exchange (ISE) standards prepared as loose powder (LP), pressed pellet (PP), and pressed pellet with wax binder (PPB). A matching library (ML) was created and evaluated against the fundamental parameters (FP) calibration using 20 ISE standards. Additionally, EDXRF results of 41 tillage soils were compared with Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) results. The PPB had most recoveries within the acceptable range of 80–120%; conversely, PP yielded the poorest element recoveries. For the calibration, the ML provided better recoveries of Ni, Pb, Cu, Mg, S, P, and Cr; however, for Zn, and Mn, it had the opposite effect. Furthermore, EDXRF results compared with ICP-OES separated by soil texture class for Al, K, Mn, and Fe. In conclusion, the EDXRF is suitable for quantifying both trace elements and macronutrients in contaminated soils and has the potential to provide screening or prediction of soil texture in agriculture.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy10091309