Validation of X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Technique to Determine Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soil Samples

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Jessica Briffa
Jessica Briffa
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Renald Blundell
Renald Blundell
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Emmanuel Sinagra
Emmanuel Sinagra
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Joseph Grech
Joseph Grech
α University of Malta University of Malta

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Validation of X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Technique to Determine Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soil Samples

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Abstract

Heavy metal soil pollution had increased in recent years and this has produced adverse effects to human wellbeing’s health by being uptaken in the food chain. A potential threat of heavy metal pollution was suspected at the Government Farm in Għammieri. This is due to heavy traffic and fireworks causing concern to the farmers who cultivate fruit and vegetables in these fields. Soil sampling with an instrument that can give rapid results was needed to analyse the data and give the real-time in-situ mapping of heavy metal pollution in the soil. Comparison between an X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) spectrometer and an Inductively Coupled Plasma -Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), both of which are conventional analytical techniques, was performed to measure the heavy metals in the soil by using laboratory and field work. This was performed to make sure that the XRF that was being used, would give accurate results before testing larger sample size. The XRF used was situated at the Department of Chemistry, at the University of Malta, whilst the ICP-MS was situated in Germany, at an accredited laboratory. Five samples were collected from around the whole field, where each sample was split into 2 identical batches.

References

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Funding

No external funding was declared for this work.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

No ethics committee approval was required for this article type.

Data Availability

Not applicable for this article.

How to Cite This Article

Jessica Briffa. 2026. \u201cValidation of X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Technique to Determine Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soil Samples\u201d. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research - H: Environment & Environmental geology GJSFR-H Volume 22 (GJSFR Volume 22 Issue H5): .

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Alt text only: Scientific study on heavy metal soil pollution detection using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.
Issue Cover
GJSFR Volume 22 Issue H5
Pg. 43- 48
Journal Specifications

Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJSFR

Print ISSN 0975-5896

e-ISSN 2249-4626

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GJSFR-H Classification: DDC Code: 628.5 LCC Code: TD172
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v1.2

Issue date

September 22, 2022

Language
en
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Heavy metal soil pollution had increased in recent years and this has produced adverse effects to human wellbeing’s health by being uptaken in the food chain. A potential threat of heavy metal pollution was suspected at the Government Farm in Għammieri. This is due to heavy traffic and fireworks causing concern to the farmers who cultivate fruit and vegetables in these fields. Soil sampling with an instrument that can give rapid results was needed to analyse the data and give the real-time in-situ mapping of heavy metal pollution in the soil. Comparison between an X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) spectrometer and an Inductively Coupled Plasma -Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), both of which are conventional analytical techniques, was performed to measure the heavy metals in the soil by using laboratory and field work. This was performed to make sure that the XRF that was being used, would give accurate results before testing larger sample size. The XRF used was situated at the Department of Chemistry, at the University of Malta, whilst the ICP-MS was situated in Germany, at an accredited laboratory. Five samples were collected from around the whole field, where each sample was split into 2 identical batches.

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Validation of X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Technique to Determine Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soil Samples

Jessica Briffa
Jessica Briffa University of Malta
Renald Blundell
Renald Blundell
Emmanuel Sinagra
Emmanuel Sinagra
Joseph Grech
Joseph Grech

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