An Improved Method for Obtaining Small Pressed Powder Pellets for the Analysis by XRF

Abstract

A rapid, very low cost of instrumentation and simple approach to specimen preparation for the analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is presented. This technique requires a few mg of powdered samples, which are compressed to produce pellets. This procedure is employed for determining major, minor and trace elements in muscovites and K-feldspars. Factors affecting measured intensities, such as particle size and distribution, surface texture, pelletizing pressure, etc, are considered. A description of the new sample preparation device, including technical characteristics, is also given. It is demonstrated that suitable specimen presentation to the X-ray beam is obtained by using our procedure.