CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIVIDUAL ATMOSPHERIC PARTICLES BY ELEMENT MAPPING IN ELECTRON-PROBE MICROANALYSIS

In this paper procedures for the characterization of individual aeroso l particles by element mapping in the electron microprobe are presente d. The number, size and qualitative chemical composition of particles is derived from a combination of secondary or backscattered electron i mages and element distribution maps. Accuracy of the size distribution and reliability of the qualitative analysis procedure were checked wi th silicate samples. In order to obtain a semi-quantitative estimate o f the chemical composition of individual particles the count rates tak en from element distribution maps are corrected for matrix and geometr ic effects using particle ZAF procedures.