Critical comparison of X-ray fluorescence and combustion-infrared methods for the determination of sulphur in biological matrices

Abstract

Eleven NBS SRMs were used to evaluate XRF and combustion-IR as methods for the rapid, routine determination of sulphur and biological matrices. Relative standard deviations of 2.8 and 3.8% and analysis times of 1 and 3 min were obtained for the two methods, respectively, on dry, powdered material. Good agreement with the literature was obtained for plant tissues, but both methods produced higher results (14%) on animal tissues compared with NBS values.