Mineralogical effect correction in wavelength dispersive X-ray florescence analysis of pressed powder pellets

Two methods are utilized to correct the influence of the mineralogical effect on the calibration of elements in geological samples when the pressed powder pellet method is used in wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis. The first method involves checking of the 2θ angle for the analyzed element in each sample to correct peak shift and the second method involves replacing the peak intensity with the peak area of the analytical line, so to correct for any shape distortion of the peak. The results were compared with those obtained from the normal method. Major elements in 27 Chinese Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) of rocks, soils and sediments were calibrated with a linear regression curve without theoretical or empirical coefficients. In view of the K values, the calibrations of all 8 elements were improved by the first method and those of 6 elements were improved by the second method. Sulfur calibrations with 4 iron ore CRMs were improved with the use of both methods. The methods have been successfully applied for the analysis of the major elements in limestone ores from different resources of a cement factory.