<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The scientific interest in air pollution comes from its influence on human health, the condition of cultural heritage and climate. The PM2.5 fraction (particles of a diameter of 2.5 mm or below), indirectly, has a significant impact on health which is associated with respiratory tract and blood vessel related diseases. However, not only the size, but also the content of the particles has a significant meaning. To determine the particulate matter contents, elemental analysis can be performed using numerous techniques, the most important of which is X-ray fluorescence. In this study, samples of PM2.5 fraction collected in Krakow, Poland were analyzed. The X-ray fluorescence method was used to perform elemental analysis. The gravimetric method was applied to determine the concentration of the PM2.5 fraction. Low detection limits of individual elements and precision of the X-ray fluorescence method were determined. The concentrations of the following elements: Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb in the PM2.5 fraction samples collected in Krakow were evaluated. The homogeneity of the samples was also estimated. The concentrations of PM2.5 fraction collected in the summer of 2013 were in the range of 6-23 ng/m3. The concentrations of PM2.5 fraction collected in the winter of 2013 were in the range of 26-171 ng/m3. The precision of the method was found to be below 1% for elements with high concentration in the sample and 6-8 % for trace elements.</abstract>

The scientific interest in air pollution comes from its influence on human health, the condition of cultural heritage and climate. The PM2.5 fraction (particles of a diameter of 2.5 mm or below), indirectly, has a significant impact on health which is associated with respiratory tract and blood vessel related diseases. However, not only the size, but also the content of the particles has a significant meaning. To determine the particulate matter contents, elemental analysis can be performed using numerous techniques, the most important of which is X-ray fluorescence. In this study, samples of PM2.5 fraction collected in Krakow, Poland were analyzed. The X-ray fluorescence method was used to perform elemental analysis. The gravimetric method was applied to determine the concentration of the PM2.5 fraction. Low detection limits of individual elements and precision of the X-ray fluorescence method were determined. The concentrations of the following elements: Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb in the PM2.5 fraction samples collected in Krakow were evaluated. The homogeneity of the samples was also estimated. The concentrations of PM2.5 fraction collected in the summer of 2013 were in the range of 6-23 ng/m3. The concentrations of PM2.5 fraction collected in the winter of 2013 were in the range of 26-171 ng/m3. The precision of the method was found to be below 1% for elements with high concentration in the sample and 6-8 % for trace elements.

Application of X-ray fluorescence method for elemental analysis of PM2.5 fraction

Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Krakow, Poland, Tel.: +48 12 617 2975, Fax: +48 12 634 0010

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The scientific interest in air pollution comes from its influence on human health, the condition of cultural heritage and climate. The PM2.5 fraction...

Application of X-ray fluorescence method for elemental analysis of PM2.5 fraction

Published Online: Sep 25, 2015

Page range: 621 - 626

Received: Sep 17, 2014

Accepted: May 20, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0107

Keywords
air pollution · energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) · elemental analysis · particulate matter

© by Lucyna Samek

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Application of X-ray fluorescence method for elemental analysis of PM2.5 fraction

Published Online: Sep 25, 2015

Page range: 621 - 626

Received: Sep 17, 2014

Accepted: May 20, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0107

Keywordsair pollution · energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) · elemental analysis · particulate matter

© by Lucyna Samek

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
air pollution · energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) · elemental analysis · particulate matter