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Proximal soil sensing of trace elements: Interferences on field measurements using XRF

Abstract:

Proximal soil sensing can contribute to the proper monitoring of soil contamination. The main goal of this study is to find the interferences generated by set-ups that differ from international guidelines when analyzing trace elements in soil using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) proximal sensors. The use of commercial polypropylene bags as covers and a device that is not in complete contact with the sample are contrasted to define the minimum possible characteristics of such settings to obtain consistent measurements. Results are element dependent, but in general, commercial polypropylene bags of up to 100 μm are suitable, and the distance between the sample and the source should be kept to a maximum of 2 mm to obtain reliable readings.