XRF

The XRF-analyzer (X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry) is a portable device which can accurately determine the concentrations of various heavy metals (for example zinc, lead, mercury) in the soil. High-energy X-rays emitted from the device trigger emission of fluorescent rays from the sample material. A detector registers the energy level of the emitted rays and the intensity. Each element has a characteristic energy level, the intensity of the emitted ray is directly related to the concentration of the specific element.

Because of its limited size and fast analyzing capabilities, the device can be used on-site. A few possible applications are establishing the excavation boundaries of a polluted site, determining the quality of excavated soil and determining the degree of pollution of a dump site.