Determination of Carbon in Aerosol by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

Carbon concentration in aerosol samples was determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry using a synthetic multilayers crystal (W/C, 2d=16.0nm) as an analyzer. X-Ray fluorescence is an excellent method because of its handiness and non-destructive nature as well as the simultaneous determination of a number of elements with low and high atomic numbers in a single sample. Carbon concentration in urban aerosols less than 10μm in diameter varies widely depending upon the sources and the seasons. This study reports that the carbon concentration in aerosol samples can be determined by X-ray spectrometer over a wide concentration range.