Target preparation and characterization for multielemental analysis of liquid samples by use of accelerators

Elastic scattering at forward angles is tested as a useful alternative method to characterize liquid samples of scientific and/or technological interest. Solid residues of such samples deposited on light backings have been bombarded with 16 MeV 7Li and 24 MeV 16O beams in order to determine the experimental configuration giving the best elemental mass separation. The elastically scattered ions were detected at 16°, 20° and 28° with surface barrier detectors. The ratios between the mass separation and the line width obtained in the spectral region between carbon and oxygen varied between 2 and 13. This method is particularly useful for an accurate elemental characterization below sodium which is beyond the scope of standard techniques such as PIXE and TXRF provided the ion beam type, its kinetic energy and the target thickness are considered simultaneously.