Monitoring of Heavy Metals By Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

Abstract

Fundamentals and salient features of a projected heavy metals monitoring system are discussed. Determination of mass concentrations is achieved by using a new dust emission monitor, consisting of a "Zero Pressure Probe" for isokinetic sampling, which is connected to a "Longitudinally Oscillating Band" mass detector. The thin dust layer, precipitated on the surface of heat resistant filter tapes could be analysed nondestructively by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). Using a small portable EDXRF-system with radioisotope-excitation, quasi-continuous monitoring of particulate heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Sb, Zn, Sn) suspended in incinerator stack gases is expected to be feasible. Another application of EDXRF-analysis is the reported investigation of electrostatic precipitator ash (ESP-fly ash). Using the "Linear Multi-Elemental-Standard Addition Method" as a fast and simple routine technique, results are reported for the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in fly ash samples which had been collected in different fields (hoppers) of the electrostatic precipitator.

Keywords

Waste incineration precipitator ash EDXRF analysis particulate heavy metals stack gas analysis.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Society for Testing and Materials ( 1981), Annual Book of ASTM-Standards, Part 14. ASTM Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Billiet, J. , Dams, R. & Hoste, J. (1980), Multielement thin film standards for XRF analysis , X-Ray Spectrometry, 9(4).

Gast, Th. & Kramm, U. (1984), Abschlußbericht zum Forschungsvorhaben Kraftwerksemissionsmessungen . Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie (BMFT) (Final report: Measurement of emissions from power stations. Ministry of Research & Technology) Reference No. 1-ET 1141 A. Ministry of Research and Technology, F.R.G.

Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe (1985), Koordinationsstelle Technologietransfer (Nuclear research centre Karlsruhe, coordination bureau for technology transfer), personal communications.

Ketelsen, P. & Knöchel A. (1983), Multielementanalyse von Aerosolen mit Hilfe der Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyes mit totalreflektierendem Probenträger (TRFA). (Multi-element analysis of aerosols by XRF with totally reflecting sample holder). Publication of the Institut für Anorganische und Angewandte Chemie, Universität Hamburg, F.R.G.

Lorber, K.E. , Wegscheider, W. , Spitzy, H. , Heinrich, K.F.J. & Pella, P.A. (1978), Development of EDXRF-Techniques for the Quantitative Multielement Analysis of Environmental Samples, Mikrochim. Acta, I.

Lorber, K.E. (1980), M üllverbrennung und Schwermetallemission (Waste incineration and emission of heavy metals), Müll und Abfall , 6.

Lorber, K.E. (1985), Incineration of RDF and incineration of total waste—comparison of emissions. In Sorting of Household Waste and Thermal Treatment of Waste, Commission of the European Communities ( Ferranti & Ferrero , Eds). Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London and New York.

Müller, J. (1983), Test of sampling instruments for suspended particulate matter in ambient air. Umweltbundesamt, Frankfurt/Main. Contribution to the poster-session during the Seminar: Aerosols in Science, Medicine and Technology, 14-16 September 1983, München , F.R.G.

10.

Søby F. & Mosbaek, H. (1983), Assessment of stack gas emitted trace metals from incineration: determination of filter collection efficiency by condensational enlargement of penetrating submicron particles, Waste Management & Research 1, 255-266.

11.

Vdi (1979) Verein Deutscher Ingenieure: VDI 2066. Messen von Partikeln. Staubmessungen in strömenden Gasen. Gravimetrische Bestimmung der Staubbeladung (Assoziation of German Engineers, VDI-guidelines: Measurement of particles. Measurement of dust in moving gases. Gravimetrical determination of the dust load). VDI-Kommission Reinhaltung der Luft, VDI-Verlag GmbH, Düsseldorf, F.R.G.

12.

Vogg, H. (1984), Verhalten von (Schwer)-Metallen bei der Verbrennung kommunaler Abfälle (Behavior of heavy metals during incineration of municipal refuse), Chem.-Ing.-Techn., 56.