TOTAL-REFLECTION X-RAY-FLUORESCENCE ANALYSES OF SAMPLES FROM OIL REFINING AND CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

The applicability and performance of the TXRF method for the analysis of sample materials from the oil refining and chemical industries were studied. One objective of the study was to develop rapid analytical p rocedures for the determination of elements present as traces in size fractionated diesel emission particles, in raw materials of resin prod uction (ureas and phenols) and in trouble-shooting samples. Another go al was to determine the real, rather than the ideal, detection limits for the various applications. Absolute detection limits for most eleme nts found in size fractionated diesel emission particles were below 1 ng. Relative detection limits determined for trace elements in ureas w ere between 5 and 30 mu g kg(-1). Only the values for P, S and Ca exce eded this range. Additionally, remarkable differences in trace element s below 1 mg kg(-1) could be detected between five commercial ureas. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.