INTER-LABORATORY NOTE X-ray fluorescence analysis of iron(III), potassium and sulfur oxides in cements with a hyperbolic addition–dilution model and using a single multicomponent standard

Abstract

A mathematical addition–dilution model for matrix correction was applied to the determination of iron(III), potassium and sulfur oxides in an industrial cement by XRF. The samples were prepared in the form of pellets. A cement of known composition was used as a single multi-element standard and the compactant and diluent was mannitol. The intensities were measured with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The graphical representation of intensityversus addition–dilution factor fits a hyperbolic function and, therefore, the proposed mathematical model can be applied. The results obtained by the proposed method show complete statistical agreement when compared with the content of the standard studied, which demonstrates that the method is suitable for this type of industrial sample with a complex matrix.