Portable XRF for Soil and Waste Screening

The new xSORT hand-held XRF spectrometer from Spectro Analytical Instruments can achieve laboratory-quality analysis on soil and waste samples. Laboratory analysis by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry has been an accepted technique for the analysis of such materials for many years and was given official approval by European Standard EN 15309:2007. Using the simple sampling procedures described in EN 15309, this small, hand-held instrument gave good agreement with inter-laboratory ‘round robin’ results on samples like contaminated soil, fly ash and Ewaste. The calibration procedure used by the xSORT is based on the successful calibration models utilised in Spectro’s laboratory instruments and can be applied with confidence to the analysis of completely unknown samples.

The xSORT is exceptionally convenient to use for on-site screening measurements. Complete with battery pack, the Spectro x-SORT weighs less than 4 pounds (1.7kg) and has an ergonomically designed handle and grip. All that is necessary to carry out an analysis is to point the instrument in contact with the surface of the test sample and press the trigger. Results are typically available in 30 seconds. The user interface and results are displayed on an optimally integrated PDA. The instrument is robust, with a shockresistant ABS plastic housing. For enhanced analytical accuracy, samples may be prepared in the traditional way for XRF analysis (as

pressed pellets), thereby reducing packing density issues. In this case, the xSORT can be coupled with its Docking Station, effectively converting the instrument into a compact, transportable benchtop XRF system. Its battery powered convenience makes it the ideal tool for “On the Spot” field analysis.

A miniaturised low power (40kV) X-ray tube, and an advanced Silicon Drift Detector combine to give exceptional stability, precision and speed of analysis for a hand-held XRF. Simple controls and careful attention to operator safety mean that the xSORT can be used by non-specialist personnel.