Chemical characterization using relative intensity of manganese Kβ′ and Kβ5 X-ray fluorescence

X-ray fluorescence can be used not only for the identification/quantification of elements but also for chemical speciation. The present paper demonstrates the potential feasibility of Kbeta spectra measured with a middle energy resolution around similar to10 eV at 6-8 keV, with the main idea being the efficient detection of intensity changes of Kbeta' and Kbeta(5) rather than precise measurements of energy shifts that require high energy-resolution. The experiments were performed at BL40XU, SPring-8, with quasi-monochromatic X-rays (fundamental peak 10.0 keV). Manganese Kbeta spectra were collected using a spectrometer with a Ge(220) Johansson analyzing crystal (R = 120 mm). Since spectral changes were clearly observed, the integrated intensities of Kbeta' and Kbeta(5) lines were normalized by Kbeta(1.3) in order to compare the profiles of the spectra for a number of samples. It has been found that chemical species are suitably classified in the map of Kbeta'-Kbeta(5) relative intensity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.