Artificial cellulose standards as calibration standards for wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of elements in plant samples

Abstract This research explores the possibilities and limitations of WD-XRF, applied as a method for quantification of 20 elements in plant material, using spiked cellulose standards for calibration. Three different analytical methods were investigated: 1) standards created from pure spiked cellulose; 2) spiked cellulose mixed with 20% of binder and 3) spiked cellulose applied as a thin layer on an inert carrier. Sensitivity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, repeatability, intralaboratory reproducibility, and accuracy were determined and compared. The accuracy of the investigated methods was tested by analysis of standard reference materials and comparison with other routinely used analytical techniques (ICP-OES and ICP-MS). The comparison included real plant samples which were collected from the environment characterized by different pollution levels. The accuracy of the semiquantitative standardless method was also considered and compared with other investigated methods. Tested methods can be very precise, with good intralaboratory reproducibility over wide linear range.