Avaliação e aplicação de metodologia da técnica espectrométrica de fluorescência de raios X por reflexão total (TXRF) na caracterização multielementar em particulados sólidos de amostras ambientais

Abstract

This study aimed the evaluation and application of methodology for multielement analyses by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF) in order to provide analyte concentration measurements with accuracy and precision. Using the energy and intensity of the spectral lines of characteristic X-ray, a series of chemicals were identified and quantified, respectively, with a concentration below part per million to a few parts per billion, especially for transition metals. To ensure statistical reliability and reproducibility, a methodology based on the deposition of fine particles, less than 50 m, representative sample and uniformly spread on a quartz flat reflector, which was extremely clean and positioned at the angular condition of maximum reflectivity of monochromatic X-rays was applied. To ensure uniformity on the support surface and the sample representativeness, a number of replicas of specific quantities of samples, in the form of a fine powder was added in a diluted viscous organic solution containing a well-known concentration of an element choosing as internal standard. An aliquot of the viscous solution containing both the suspended particulate sample and an internal standard was deposited at the center of the quartz reflector and dried, yielding a very thin layer of particulates. First, the instrumental TXRF was previously evaluated for its operation, spectral response and recovery of transition metal concentrations in a test sample supplied by the manufacturer. The reproducibility of the elemental concentration measurements was tested with a combination of the number of experimental replicates (five) and analytical (three) for each type of environmental matrix samples, namely certified reference materials or CRMs. Six types of CRMs were tested: river sediment, tomato leaves, rice, fish muscle, bone and bovine liver. The data were statistically processed data, resulting in a series of average and uncertainty values of the analyte concentrations was compared to certified reference values, reported in the technical reports of CRM. Regarding the multielement character of the TXRF technique, there was a good recovery, about 100%, for most of the certified concentrations of the referenced analytes in the six CRMs within the margin of variability of results found by both the TXRF technique and reports. It was also found that the detection limit depends on the density matrix of the material under study. However, the transition elements were those with the lowest values of detection limits. Having a good recovery of majority analyte concentrations in Buffalo River sediment reference material, the same methodology was applied to sediment material analysis of Bezerra stream that was collected in three locations and for a period of three years. A number of chemicals has been identified through their spectral lines K and L and quantified following the internal standard method. The set of concentration data was statistically processed from the point of view of the normality of the data and an analysis of principal components, revealing a systematic presence of high concentrations of heavy metals such as lead and chromium, comparatively higher those recommended by current environmental legislation (CONAMA 420/2009) as the maximum permissible limits.