How does TXRF work?

The TXRF working principle is based on the method of total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis. An aircooled X-ray tube generates an X-ray beam, which is reduced to a narrow energy range by a multi-layer monochromator. The fine beam impinges on a polished sample carrier at a very small angle and is totally reflected.

What is the difference between TXRF and conventional XRF?

Like conventional energy dispersiveXRFtechniques, excitation by the X-ray beam causes elements in the sample to emit light at their characteristic energies which enables elemental identification. The magnitude of the elements’ energy signals helps determine their concentration in a sample. However, TXRF’s ability to illuminate a sample with a totally reflected beam reduces absorption and scattering in the sample matrix. The resulting benefits include significantly enhanced fluorescence yield, largely reduced background noise, and consequently much higher sensitivities to elements that occur only in trace amounts. Another benefit of TXRF over conventional XRF is its ability to measure a very small amount of sample, in the low microliter or microgram range.

TXRF analyzes liquids, powders and suspensions which are prepared on the polished sample carrier as a thin film for quantitative analysis or as a micro-fragment for qualitative analysis. For liquids, a few microliters of homogenous sample with an internal standard are pipetted on the sample carrier, dried by heat or vacuum, and loaded into the spectrometer. Solids like plant tissue and soil samples are first dried, ground, suspended in detergent solution, diluted, and homogenized before pipetting onto the carrier. Powders, sediments, or other solids can be digested in a mild acid solution or converted into a suspension before pipetting onto the carrier. Alternatively, microparticles of dry samples can be dabbed onto the carrier with grease for semi-quantitative analysis.

痕量和小样本分析

Compared toconventional XRF，TXRF具有测量PPB范围内元素的痕量水平。就绝对质量而言，检测极限在皮克图范围内，甚至比任何商业ICP系统都要好。

Rapid analysis

Compared to atomic spectroscopy which is traditionally used for trace and small sample elemental analysis, TXRF sample preparation is fast, easy, and does not require a laboratory exhaust hood for use of dangerous chemicals. It measures all elements simultaneously including halogenides, and it has much lower analytical operation and maintenance costs.

How often is calibration required?

The TXRF system comes factory-calibrated and ready to use. Day-to-day quantification of unknown samples therefore only requires the addition of an internal standard element, such as gallium.

Does TXRF Need a Vacuum Pump or Cooling Fluids?

不！TXRF光谱仪不需要真空泵。由于距离样品载体的距离很短，因此荧光产量非常高，空气吸收非常低。这使TXRF光谱仪变得非常紧凑且场地分析。此外，TXRF光谱仪不需要冷却液，气体或任何其他培养基。这是一个无需媒体或复杂的实验室基础架构的即插即用系统。

• ISO TS 18507：在生物学和环境分析中使用总反射X射线荧光光谱。
• ISO 20289: Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence analysis of water.