Handheld X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) FAQs

Will XRF technology destroy the material that is being scanned?

XRF is a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials. XRF analyzers determine the elemental composition of a sample by measuring the fluorescence (or secondary) X-ray emitted from elements in a sample when those are excited by a primary X-ray source. Each of the elements present in a sample produces a set of characteristic X-ray lines ("a fingerprint") that is unique for that specific element, which is why XRF spectroscopy is an excellent technology for qualitative analysis and quantitative determination of material composition. (For more information about XRF, download this ebook: Portable XRF Technology for the Non-Scientist.)

How safe are handheld XRF analyzers to operate?

During the analysis, the analyzer emits a directed radiation beam when the tube is energized. Reasonable effort should be made to maintain exposures to radiation as far below dose limits as is practical. This is known as the ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) principle. Three factors will help minimize your radiation exposure:

• Time: The less time you spend near a radiation source, the lower your exposure will be. 
• Distance: The dose rate decreases significantly as the distance from the radiation source increases. 
• Shielding: Using appropriate shielding materials can significantly reduce the dose rate.

While the radiation emitted from a portable or handheld XRF elemental analyzer is similar to the exposure received in a normal medical or dental X-ray, care must be taken to always point a handheld XRF analyzer directly at the sample and never at a person or a body part. (See  7 Safety Tips When Using Portable XRF Analyzers.)

Can XRF tell the difference between precious metals and pyrite?

Pyrite (which is commonly referred to as ‘Fool’s Gold’) is a mineral with the chemical formula FeS₂ and it does not contain any precious metals, whatsoever. Therefore, any direct differentiation between the two should be fairly easy with portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers. However, if the pyrite mineral is covered with a layer of another substance, then it really is a question of what that other substance is and how thick is the layer.

Can handheld XRF be used in li-ion battery recycling?

Handheld XRF is primarily used in the early stages of the battery recycling process. It can identify the type of cathode scrap films, which make up a significant portion of the feedstock. This information is crucial for selecting the appropriate recycling route. While pyrometallurgy is effective for recovering nickel and cobalt from NCM cathode films, it is not suitable for LFP cathode films due to the challenge of recovering lithium.

Handheld XRF is also used to sort battery housings and analyze the resulting products after shredding and separation. It provides information for risk assessment, material treatment, and process efficiency. The valuable black mass can be analyzed for nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper and other elements with minimal sample preparation. Additionally, as noted, handheld XRF can accurately measure those elements in the alloy recovered from smelting.

Read more about handheld XRF and battery recycling ›

Can handheld XRF analyzers determine the valuable metals in automotive catalytic converters?

There is an entire range of handheld XRF analyzers to accurately quantify the platinum group metals (PGMs) such as platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh) a in automotive catalytic converters. Materials are usually pulverized to a maximum 250um and loaded in XRF sample cups or sample bags for analysis.  Read the application note: Determination of platinum, palladium, and rhodium in spent automotive catalytic converters.

Can metal fabricators analyze coatings with handheld XRF technology?

Handheld XRF analyzers are an extremely efficient technology for rapid compositional analysis of alloys and coating thickness measurements. Since the analyzers are handheld, they can be utilized to perform spot analysis anywhere in the supply chain, help ensure that expensive coating material isn’t wasted, and enhance process monitoring and quality control. Check out this application note for more specific information: Measuring Metal Coating Thickness at Line

Can XRF technology be used on jewelry and coins?

Portable precious metal XRF analyzers can be used for gold testing and metal analysis of jewelry, coins, and other valuable products, with just the push of a button -- and within sight of the customer. They help quickly distinguish between gold plating and solid gold, as well as determine the accurate karat (K) weight of gold jewelry. In addition, nondestructive analysis protects precious jewelry, antiques and collectibles.

Portable XRF technology can easily detect the true composition of the coin by testing through thin foil covers, and provide a very good indication of the coin’s composition even in the case of thicker plastic slabs. Learn more by reading this application note: Adding Value to the Numismatic Profession with Portable XRF.

Can XRF technology be used to identify rare earth elements?

The 17 rare earth elements (REES) are really not rare.  They are just rarely mined because finding concentrations that are economically minable is unusual. REEs rarely exist in pure form; they are usually concentrated in more than one mineral, and each mineral requires a different costly extraction technology and mineral processing. Geochemical exploration is the main method of REE exploration. Depending on the REE project type, portable XRF analyzers are useful instruments that can provide real-time, on-site assays of REEs and other elements in any type of geological samples. Read the application note: Measuring Rare Earth Elements in geological samples using the Niton XL5 Plus handheld XRF Analyzer.

The XRF technique is particularly useful for examining samples that might not be from Earth at all -- like meteorites --as it doesn’t alter their chemical bonds and can detect multiple elements simultaneously.  Read the blog article Understanding the Composition of Martian Rocks and Other Meteorites through Handheld XRF Spectrometry