INVESTIGATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILTERS FOR ATMOSPHERIC TRACE-ELEMENTS ANALYSIS BY 3 ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

Different atmospheric aerosol samples were collected on three types of filters. Disks of both loaded aid clean areas of each kind of filter were investigated by XRF, PIXE and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) methods. The blank concentration values of the elements Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br and Pb in the three types of fiters are discussed. It is found that for trace eleme ntal analysis, the Nuclepore membrane filters are the most suitable fo r sampling. These have much lower blank element concentration values t han the glass fibres and ash free filters. It was found also that the PIXE method is a more reliable analytical technique for atmospheric ae rosol particles than the other methods.