Matrix effects during potassium and calcium determinations in rice saplings using X-ray spectrometery

For selectively excited calcium K X-rays in rice saplings, the relations al pha = N-KR[1 + A gamma + B beta/(1 + alpha)] and 1/N-Ca, = alpha/beta + b c beta are found to support the enhancement of potassium K X-rays and N-Ca calcium K X-ray counts during potassium and calcium determinations, respec tively. Here alpha, beta and gamma are weight fractions of potassium, calci um and the matrix substrate, respectively, NKR is the relative potassium K X-ray counts of the sample to that of pure potassium and A, B, a, b and c a re constants. Tests of these relations, using eight known mixtures of CaCO3 , KNO3 and Na(2)B(4)O(7)10H(2)O (borax), have further supported the finding s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.