The handheld XRF elemental analyzer that’s designed for high-throughput testing and spectrochemical analysis

Scientific evidence plays a vital role in today’s justice system: many high profile criminal investigations reach their conclusions almost entirely on this evidence. Many branches of science are employed in accumulating forensic evidence, from highly publicized techniques like DNA profiling to pathology, botany and of course chemical analysis. Elemental analysis of an object found in the course of an investigation can yield valuable clues to its origin and history. The object itself may, however, need to be presented as evidence, so any technique used for this analysis should ideally be non-destructive. Variation in sample type and size may be almost infinite: from a soil sample to a bullet to a microscopic speck of gunshot residue or fragment of glass. Archaeometry, the application of scientific methods to archaeology, has very similar requirements. Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry is a versatile analytical technique that can satisfy both of these needs: it is non-destructive, requires very little sample preparation and can be configured to handle any sample size from a large surface to a few microns. The wide range of EDXRF spectrometers from SPECTRO Analytical Instruments and EDAX, member companies of AMETEK Inc.‘s Materials Analysis Division, provide solutions to many elemental analysis tasks in forensic investigation and archaeometry. 

Regulations restricting the use of hazardous substances in manufacturing are proliferating worldwide. Their aim: reducing the health and environmental impacts of certain harmful materials in consumer goods and other products. Different standards apply in different countries, affecting products from electrical and electronic components to toys and cosmetics, as well as raw materials and additives.

Fortunately, analytical technology has kept pace with regulatory demands. Analyzers employing X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry have evolved excellent capabilities for rapid screening. For example, the new SPECTROCUBE XRF spectrometer can deliver elemental testing for compliance with exceptional speed, plus demonstrated ease of use and reliability. Its design also enables adding new elements via simple software updates. This paper will focus on benchtop XRF instrumentation, while noting where other analyzer types are recommended.

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One unfortunate legacy of man’s activity is contamination of the environment. Soil, water and air can all be polluted by harmful substances, and this contamination can be directly toxic or can pass into food or other products for human consumption. Controlling harmful emissions from industry and the safe and environmentally responsible disposal of waste are major issues for governments and industries worldwide.

The analysis of environmental samples is an essential part of detecting and controlling pollution. Certain elements, particularly the “heavy metals” like lead, cadmium and mercury are notorious for their toxicity, and usually need to be measured in the parts-per-million concentration range. The most popular and convenient analytical technique for environmental screening for these elements is Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). Screening waste material or contaminated land is made much easier if analytical measurements can be made rapidly on site, and the new SPECTRO xSORT is a portable hand-held EDXRF instrument ideal for this type of work. The SPECTRO XEPOS is a high performance laboratory EDXRF system especially suitable for the determination of trace elements.

Explosions, fires, and other incidents in industrial environments receive wide publicity. Financial losses to operators and insurers can easily run to many millions of dollars. Not infrequently, these incidents are traced to the use of piping, valves, and similar components made of inappropriate materials.

In many cases, the presence or absence of a particular alloying element in a steel component is critical to its performance but impossible to detect by physical inspection. It’s why today, spectrometric analyzers have become vital components for the performance of PMI in these environments.

This new paper reviews several situations that occur regularly and then explains the leading technologies and the instruments that are most effective in detecting the inappropriate alloying elements. Sample test results are included to demonstrate each instrument’s analytical capability.

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REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances, EC/1907/2006) is the new and harmonized directive for chemicals and their usage in the european union. An important part is the responsibility for manufacturers to inform their customers when the products contain specific substances >0.1%. This legislation is in process of enactment and will replace earlier legislation like the Restriction on the Marketing and Use of Dangerous Chemicals (76/796/EC) by 2015. REACH places requirements on the classification, packaging and labeling of chemicals. A Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), lists chemicals to which the legislation already applies (in 2009). Included in the list are several heavy metal compounds like TBTO (tributyltin oxide). 

Huge quantities of waste oil and related wastes are generated each year. Properly collected and processed, these wastes can be a valuable energy source or be refined to produce usable products such as new lubricating oil. However waste oil is usually contaminated, because of its previous use, with water and other liquids, halogens and other elements including heavy metals. In most countries it is regarded as potentially hazardous waste and must be handled, processed and stored accordingly. Its transport, storage and ultimate uses are governed by a variety of direct and indirect national and international legislation and industry standards. A worldwide specialist industry has developed to collect, transport and process waste oil and to market the products derived from it. Elemental analysis is an essential part of the environmental protection and quality control procedures associated with the recycling of waste oil. The two analytical techniques most frequently used for elemental analysis in this industry are Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). This paper describes these techniques and how the range of instruments from SPECTRO Analytical Instruments meet the current and future requirements for elemental analysis in the waste oil recycling industry. 

Over 400 million tons of metal is recycled each year. Recycling conserves precious natural resources, and the benefits to the environment in saved energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions are also well recognized. Scrap metal in a raw, unsorted form has low monetary value, is bulky and expensive to handle and transport, and attracts low margins as a trade commodity. Manual sorting based on appearance, magnetic behavior and similar physical properties to identify higher value metals is labor intensive, inaccurate and unreliable. The SPECTRO xSORT handheld metals analyzer can take the uncertainty out of scrap sorting and positively identify alloy grades in seconds.

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