METHOD OF QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS MAKING USE OF BROMINE IN A NUCLEPORE FILTER

Nuclepore filters have been widely used for collecting atmospheric aerosols and such samples are quite convenient for PIXE since they can be analyzed without any treatment. However, some special methods, (which is somewhat different from existing standard methods for general samples), must be applied in order to perform quantitative analysis. We have developed a method of quantitative analysis for all elements making use of bromine, which is almost uniformly contained in general Nuclepore filters, as an internal standard. Then, for quantitative analysis of light elements, the standard-free method, which makes use of total yield of continuous x-rays, has been applied and it is found that this method can be successfully applied to practical aerosol samples. Moreover, the method was applied to bio-samples prepared by cutting frozen samples with a microtome, and the result is almost satisfactory. It is found that the present method can be successfully applied to any sample which can be made uniform.