Page 4 - Portable Spectroscopy for Science Education

How does elemental analysis work?

Atomic spectroscopy is the most commonly recommended technique
for evaluating the elemental composition of a sample. It analyzes the

interaction between light (energy) and matter (samples). Energy

Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry is one such

technology; and, it can be designed and engineered for portable analysis.

EDXRF EDXRF
Spectroscopy Technology
• Energy from an EDXRF source aimed Sample
at a sample can eject the atoms’
inner orbital electrons.

• Outer electrons move into the voids
to regain stability.

• While moving in, the outer electrons
Elemental atom schematic of generate energy characteristic of the
electron orbital element. X-ray source Detector

Molecular Elemental
Vision Vision

Up to 4 watts >0 to <40 keV
Of Power Detection
10-100 watts
Power • That energy is detected and
processed to determine which
elements are present in the sample.

• The intensity (number of photons) XRF Tube Detector
Molecular View of measured at a given element’s
Corn on the Cob energy determines its relative
abundance or concentration for
quantification.

Red to Violet • Qualitative results are essentially
1.8 to 3.1 eV graphs or spectra showing intensity Elemental View of
Detection
as a function of energy. a Metal Alloy

Elemental vision is possible by detecting the energy of light. 4