Particle Induced X-Ray Emission Spectrometry (PIXE) for trace metal detection in lake sediments

CHED 846

Natalie L Hoogeveen, Graham F. Peaslee, Carolina Contreras, Christopher Avery, and Rob J Bartlett.
Trace metal detection in sediment is commonly quantified using EPA method 3051A where a microwave-assisted nitric acid leaching procedure is used with Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). This procedure takes our laboratory about 3 days per dozen samples from sample preparation to results. We have developed an alternate method of trace metal quantification in sediment using a tandem pelletron accelerator and Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) Spectrometry that takes about 1 day to yield comparable data. Both the EPA method and the accelerator method have been used to repeatedly measure NIST mud as well as an inland lake sediment containing high chromium levels from spilled tannery waste and two cores from Lake Michigan with elevated manganese. Preliminary data will be shown for a variety of samples which indicate comparable levels of detection and reproducibility.