Studies on The Appropriate Type of Filter Sampling to Analyze The Atmospheric Trace Element Using Three Analytical Methods

Different atmospheric aerosol samples were collected on three types of filters. Different disks were cut and investigated by XRF, PIXE and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for both the loaded and clean areas. In PIXE, both blank and aerosol samples were bombarded with 2 Mev proton from 5 Mv Van de Graff accelerator in the Institute of Nuclear Research, (Debrcen, Hungary). The blank concentration values of the elements. Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br and Pb in the three types of filter are discussed. It is found that for trace elemental analysis, the Nuclepore membrane filters are the most suitable for sampling. These filters have much lower blank element concentrations than the glass fiber and ash free filters. It was also found that PIXE is a more reliable analytical technique for atmospheric aerosol particles than the other methods used.