Method development for determination of sodium, potassium and calcium ions concentrations in hot springs water using EDXRF

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Measurement of major cation such as Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ in water are normally carried out using AAS, ICP-OES or flame photometry. In this study, an attempt was made to measure these cations using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescent Spectrometry (EDXRF). Hot springs water was taken from varies hot spring in Selangor and divided into two portions that is filtered and unfiltered. 5 mL of water samples were pipette into a special liquid cups (sample holders) which has a thin mylar film underneath. The MiniPal4 XRF instrument was used in this study. The resolution for the instrument use is 145 keV with energy resolution at 5.9 keV. The spectrum of cations were analysed by using MiniPal/MiniMate software to determine the cations concentration. For K⁺ and Ca²⁺, Al-thin filter was used and default filter was used for Na⁺. The concentration of Na⁺ obtained for filtered and unfiltered samples were ranged from 38.00 to 66.05 and 43.26 to 76.95 ppm. Meanwhile, concentrations of K⁺ for filtered and unfiltered samples were ranged from 2.42 to 8.07 and 6.18 to 29.28 ppm. Concentrations of Ca²⁺ for filtered and unfiltered samples were ranged from 2.59 to 10.94 and 3.18 to 12.99 ppm.

Keywords: Na⁺,K⁺,Ca²⁺,X-ray Fluorescent Spectrometer (EDXRF), Selangor, Hot springs water

ABSTRAK

Ukuran kation utama seperti Na⁺,K⁺,Ca²⁺ di dalam air biasanya menggunakan AAS,ICP-OES atau nyalaan pengukuran cahaya. Dalam kajian ini, percubaan telah dibuat bagi mengukur kation dengan menggunakan Pendaflur Serakan Tenaga Sinar X (EDXRF). Air panas telah diambil daripada pelbagai kolam air panas di Selangor dan telah dibahagikan kepada dua bahagian yang mana dituras dan tidak dituras. 5mL sampel air dipipet ke dalam cawan cecair khas (pemegang sampel) yang mana mempunyai filem mylar nipis dibawah. Dalam kajian ini, instrumen MiniPal4 XRF telah digunakan. Resolusi untuk instrumen yang digunakan adalah 145 keV dengan tenaga resolusi pada 5.9 keV. Spektrum kation telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan perisian MiniPal /MiniMate untuk menentukan kepekatan kation. Bagi K⁺ dan Ca²⁺ penuras ‘Al-thin’ dan bagi Na⁺ tiada penuras digunakan. Kepekatan Na⁺ yang diperolehi bagi sampel dituras dan tidak dituras adalah dari 38.00 hingga 66.05 dan 43.26 hingga 76.95 ppm. Sementara itu, kepekatan K⁺ untuk sampel yang dituras adalah diantara 2.42 hingga 8.07 dan 6.18 hingga 29.28 ppm. Kepekatan Ca²⁺ untuk sampel dituras dan tidak dituras adalah dari 2.59 hingga 10.94 dan 3.18 hingga 12.99 ppm.