Chemistry Commons^™

Optimization Of Xrf Experimental Protocol For Bruker Picofox, Tyler Ashcraft

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The research performed was to improve the precision and accuracy of sample measurements made with the Bruker Picofox X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The initial method of sample preparation using a 10 μL drop spotted onto an acrylic plate and then drying in an oven at 80˚C produced inconsistent results even when processing replicates or the same sample multiples times. Multiple experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different sample preparation conditions on the resulting accuracy. The conditions tested were drop size, plate composition, and drying temperature. For each experiment an internal standard (gallium) was used at concentrations similar to that …