Interpretation and use of inter-element correlation graphs obtained by scanning X-ray fluorescence micro-beam spectrometry from individual particles. Part II — application

Inter-element correlation graphs from two-dimensional scanning X-ray fluorescence micro-beam spectrometry measurements of individual particles were modeled in the previous theoretical part of this study. It was shown that the investigation of the correlation graph gives an opportunity to find a simple geometrical shape to model individual particles. In the present work individual oil and coal fly ash particles were studied as an application of the method. The absorption characteristics of the residual matrices of the particles could be estimated from the width of the correlation plots. Inter-element concentration ratios were estimated from the slopes of the respective correlation graphs. These data were compared with the values determined by measuring a thin glass calibration standard NIST 1832.