X-ray emission spectroscopy applied for bulk and individual analysis of airborne particulates

Abstract It has been shown that filters used for collection of airborne particles by high volume air samplers can yield information on the particles' elemental composition when analyzed by X-ray emission spectroscopy methods. In this work we present some results on trace element characterization (both bulk and individual particles) of air particulates by X-ray fluorescence (in normal and total reflection geometry) and proton induced X-ray emission (in standard and microbeam geometry).