On-Site Vs. Lab Analysis - Thermo Scientific NITON XL3t 500 User Manual

On-site vs. Lab Analysis

In Situ Depth Profiling
On-site vs. Lab
Analysis
1-42 NITON XL3 Analyzer User's Guide
WARNING! Always treat radiation with respect. Do not hold your
instrument near the measurement window during testing. Never point your
instrument at yourself or anyone else when the tube is on.
Note Never use in situ testing with field portable XRF when comparing
field results with laboratory results to justify XRF usage. Always collect
samples and prepare them before testing. Refer to the instructions on sample
collection and preparation in Ex Situ Testing.
XRF analysis for soil is a surface technique. To perform a depth profile,
remove a vertical slice of soil and test several samples taken from different
depths. This procedure will yield information, rapidly, about the depth of
contamination.
WARNING! Always treat radiation with respect. Do not hold your
instrument near the measurement window during testing. Never point your
instrument at yourself or anyone else when the shutter is open.
Note Never use in situ testing with field portable XRF when comparing
field results with laboratory results to justify XRF usage. Always collect
samples and prepare them before testing. Refer to the instructions on sample
collection and preparation in Ex Situ Testing.
When comparing field screening to laboratory analysis, it is preferable to
compare results obtained from the same samples. Start by collecting a
sample large enough to be divided into two parts, with one portion stored
for future reference and the other submitted to a laboratory for independent
analysis. For best results, follow the complete protocol for sample
preparation, including drying and grinding of the sample. Grinding is
essential for homogenizing the sample, ensuring that the portion sent to the
lab is the sample as that analyzed on-site.
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