TXRF Analysis of River Water in its Stream Across to the City of Córdoba in Argentina

M.C. VALENTINUZZI; HECTOR JORGE SANCHEZ; J. ABRAHAM

Budapest (Hungría)

Congreso; TXRF 2005; 2005

The aim of this work was to analyze the composition of river waters and to study their quality; the samples were taken at different points of the ?Suquía? river, which crosses the city of Córdoba, in Argentina. The analyzes were carried out by total reflection X ray fluorescence (TXRF) using beam guides, that is considered a highly effective method in micro and trace analysis of various kinds of samples, especially for environmental matrices. Beam guides consisting of two Si plate reflectors (studied and analyzed in previous woks) were used as sample carriers and as guides for the X ray photons to the sample in order to get the characteristic configuration that ensures the best excitation and detection conditions in TXRF. The analyzes were carried out by preconcentrating the water samples and by adding an internal standard (Gallium); small amounts of samples (about 50 micro-liters)  were deposited on the Si reflector plate and then analyzed in the total-reflection XRF spectrometer. Spectra were analyzed with standard methods. The results show interesting behaviors of the concentration of trace  elements along the river, indicating possible sources of contamination,  specially in its stream across to the city. Our data indicate that  concentration levels of pollutants are significantly lesser outside the  limits of the city.