Trace determination of perchlorate in water by TXRF

Recently, a research group led by Professor N. Kallithrakas-Kontos (Technical University of Crete, Greece) reported successful total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis of perchlorate. In the present research, perchlorate anions were concentrated on anion-selective membranes prepared on a mirror-polished quartz substrate. Then the quartz reflectors were taken out of the solution and analyzed by measuring Cl Kα intensity under the total-reflection condition, using a copper X-ray tube and helium atmosphere. The effects of many experimental parameters were discussed in detail, and even the possible capability of discrimination between chloride and perchlorate anions was suggested. The minimum detection limit was lower than 1 ng/mL. For more information, see the paper, "Determination of Trace Perchlorate Concentrations by Anion-Selective Membranes and Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Analysis", V. S. Hatzistavros et al., Anal. Chem., Article ASAP (DOI: 10.1021/ac103295a Publication Date (Web): April 4, 2011).