Micronutrient Analysis Using ED-XRF Spectroscopy at the Point of Production

The ability to conduct elemental analysis of materials close to the production line has significant advantages in improving product quality and consistency while maximising throughput. This is especially true in micronutrient analysis, where the ability to accurately determine elemental composition is very important.  

Traditional laboratory-based quality control methods add substantial costs and delays to a process already operating with thin margins. Promising to change all of this is a new generation of high-resolution rapid screening technology that uses energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectroscopy in an instrument designed specifically to conduct lab-quality elemental analyses at the production line.

The need for at-line QC 
In recent years, the main laboratory method for elemental analysis of plant tissue with dependable accuracy and sufficient sensitivity has been inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Alternative, colorimetric methods have been developed for zinc and iron analysis in grain. Though simpler to undertake than ICP-OES, these methods are only semi-quantitative, and also, when thousands of samples are to be analysed, too time-consuming.

One drawback of both ICP-OES and colorimetric methods is that they must be done in a lab. Once a sample is collected, it must be transported to the lab, where it would likely be placed in queue for ICP-OES analysis. A second drawback is that these methods require extensive sample preparation, which can add hours to the process and in some cases actually be hazardous. If the test reveals undesirable levels of elemental content, it will likely need to be performed again on a new sample and the cycle would be repeated, extending time to production further.

Bringing analysis to the line
ED-XRF analysis, on the other hand, is performed directly on a sample, usually with little preparation and with powerful new portable instruments that can be used anywhere in the plant. Once a sample is collected from any process point, it can be analysed rapidly and accurately right at the point of production. The process begins by calibrating the instrument in the lab against a reference sample that contains the desired concentrations of the target nutrients and minerals.

With a carefully selected system, at-line analysis using a new generation of ED-XRF instruments from Spectro Analytical can deliver the level of accuracy once found only in the lab, and by doing so, can boost process throughput, reduce costs, and provide your plant with far more flexibility than ever before.

More information is available here and here.