COLLECTION OF AIRBORNE PARTICULATE MATTER FOR A SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS BY TOTAL-REFLECTION X-RAY-FLUORESCENCE

The collection of airborne particulate matter by filtration and impact ion was adapted to total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis (TXRF) . Cellulose nitrate filters were used for collecting in a Berner impac tor. Single filter spots were punched out, placed on quartz-glass carr iers, dissolved by tetrahydrofuran and re-precipitated prior to elemen t determinations by TXRF. In a Battelle-type impactor, airborne dust w as collected on Plexiglass(R) carriers coated with medical Vaseline(R) . The loaded carriers were directly analyzed by TXRF. In both cases, q uantification was simply performed by the addition of an internal stan dard after sampling. Impactors were made of a suitable material in ord er to investigate high blank values, collection losses and memory effe cts. It could be shown that stainless steel, even coated with TiN, is less suitable and should be avoided as an impactor material. Although aluminum is partly recommendable, titanium and the polymer Makrolon(R) are quite appropriate. By using an impactor made of these materials, a reliable multielement determination in airborne dust is made possibl e with low detection limits as low as 1 ng/m(3) and a satisfactory rep eatability of a few %. Short sampling times of only 1 h or less can be realized. The total procedure is simple and time-saving, and can be r ecommended for routine investigations of airborne particulate matter.