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Self Absorption Corrections for X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Aerosols

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

T. G. Dzubay
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Physics Laboratory, National Environmental Research Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
R. O. Nelson
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Physics Laboratory, National Environmental Research Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
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Abstract

A procedure is described for making self absorption corrections for x-ray fluorescence analysis of ambient air aerosols which are collected in two size ranges with a dichotomous sampler. Calculations for fine particles are based on the assumption of a uniform layer of accumulated deposit which has an exponentially decreasing depth profile within a membrane filter. Coarse particles are treated as spheres with a log normal mass distribution which is subject to modification by the sampling device. An average attenuation and the associated uncertainty is deduced for coarse particles by considering a wide variety of possible chemical compositions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1974

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